Japan's jobless rate climbs to 4.7 percent in July (AP)

TOKYO – Japan's jobless rate has risen for the second straight month.

The government announced Tuesday that the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate climbed to 4.7 percent in July, edging up from 4.6 percent in June.

The result reflects the fragility of the world's No. 3 economy, which is wrestling with a strong yen and an increasingly uncertain outlook for the global economy.

But the actual jobs picture may be worse because the data do not include the three prefectures hardest hit by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. In Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures, there are ongoing reports of out-of-work residents unable to find jobs to replace ones that were wiped out by the disaster.

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