Japan to Create Jobs in Nursing, Farm, Tourism Sectors

Tokyo, Oct. 13 (Jiji Press)--The Japanese government is considering
creating more jobs in the nursing care, agriculture and forestry, and
tourism sectors to address rising unemployment.

Concerns about job losses are mounting toward the end of the year
despite a slight decline in the unemployment rate to 5.5 pct in August from
a record high of 5.7 pct the previous month.
National Strategy Minister Naoto Kan said during a television
program Sunday that the government is preparing for a program that will give
jobless people full-time jobs at nursing care facilities after training
there for six months or one year.
Kan also said the government will help those who lose construction
jobs amid a sharp cut in public works projects find jobs in the agriculture
and forestry sector.
A senior government official also said the government may provide
language training to jobless people to accommodate increasing tourists to
Japan from the rest of Asia.
In addition, Kan said the government is considering utilizing
vacant apartments in public and corporate houses to address the plight of
those who lost both jobs and houses.
Kan also said the government is considering a system that will
allow unemployed people to seek jobs and houses and apply for public welfare
benefits all at once at job-placement offices.