TOKYO, Oct. 2 -- Japan's unemployment rate climbed to 2.5 percent in August from 2.4 percent in July, marking the first deterioration in five months, government data showed Friday.

The number of people with jobs rose by 30,000 from the previous month to a seasonally adjusted 68.34 million, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

Of those out of work, 810,000 quit their jobs voluntarily, typically in pursuit of better working conditions, up 8.0 percent from July, while 400,000 were let go by their employers, an increase of 5.3 percent.

Meanwhile, the number of people newly looking for work grew 2.2 percent to 460,000, according to the ministry.

Separate data from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare showe...