Last year, the average active job openings-to-applicants ratio was 1.28, surpassing the previous year for the first time in four years against the backdrop of the recovery of economic activity from the corona crisis.
According to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, the number of job openings posted by companies to Hello Work last year averaged 2,474,041 per month, an increase of 12.7% from the previous year, while the number of people seeking work averaged 1.93 million per month. 5780 people, a decrease of 0.7%.
Last year's average active job openings-to-applicants ratio, which indicates the number of job openings for each person seeking work, was 1.28, 0.15 points higher than the previous year.
It is the first time in four years that the active job openings-to-applicants ratio has exceeded the previous year.
In particular, there was a significant increase in job openings in the lodging, food service, and manufacturing industries.
According to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, ``Last year, as restrictions on movement due to the coronavirus eased and economic activity recovered, there was a move among companies to increase job openings. However, it is necessary to pay close attention to the effects of the weaker yen, higher prices, and soaring energy prices in the future."
On the other hand, the active job openings-to-applicants ratio in December last year was 1.35, which was unchanged from the previous month.
Looking at the active job openings-to-applicants ratio by prefecture, Fukui Prefecture had the highest at 1.94, followed by Shimane at 1.82, and Okinawa and Kanagawa with the lowest at 1.08.