Japan's unemployment rate is at its highest level since the Second World War, raising question marks about an economic recovery just two days ahead of general elections. The jobless rate rose to 5.7 percent in July or 3.59 million people.

More than one million lost their jobs over the past year, as companies slashed costs to survive the worst economic recession in decades. Official figures last week also showed that the Japanese economy is returning to positive growth for the first time in over a year, but many ordinary people are not feeling the benefits. Consumer spending remains weak and in the job market, there are only 43 jobs for every 100 unemployed.

The announcement of the unemployment figures will not help the long-ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) of Prime Minister Taro Aso, which is trailing behind the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) in opinion polls. If the DPJ emerge as winners in Sunday's polls, they will end half a century of almost unbroken rule by the LDP.

Japan's PM Taro Aso by World Economic Forum (flickr)