The unemployed totaled 110 thousand after the earthquake disaster among three prefectures

The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare reported that the number of the unemployed has climbed up to about 111.5 thousands among Iwate Prefecture, Miyagi Prefecture and Fukushima Prefecture where the Great East Japan Earthquake hit most severe and the people there either lost their jobs or got on suspension due to the temporarily close down and filed for unemployment benefit. Many are considered “Job loss related to the disaster”, and even 5,112 were added past nine days after May, 13th, 2011.


Statistics are based on the number of people who came to “Hello Work” – unemployment office to file for the benefits between the next day after the disaster and May 22, 2011. The prefectural breakdown shows that Iwate had 23,640 (1.9 times more compared to the last year), Miyagi had 48,496 (2.4 times), and Fukushima, 39,437 (2.8 times); the total number summed up to 111,537 (2.4 times).

The figure included the people who left jobs voluntarily and retired due to the age, but the most of the portion of increase were attributed to the job loss due to the disaster. The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare expects low possibility for a sudden increase after this.

Yomiuri News Paper May 25, 2011

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/feature/20110316-866918/news/20110525-OYT1T00857.htm

Translated by Makiko Tajima Asano