TOKYO - Japan's unemployment rate worsened slightly in October, as industrial production slipped and household spending was down, the government said Tuesday.

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The national unemployment rate rose to 5.1 percent in October, up from 5 percent a month earlier. The figure is low by international standards but high historically for Japan.

Separately, the government said industrial production dropped 1.8 percent in October from the previous month, for the fifth straight month of decline.

Tokyo is struggling to keep its nascent economic recovery alive, and the current government has decided that providing jobs is a key. Last week, the parliament passed a new $61 billion stimulus package with support for small businesses and regional economies, which have been hit hardest by the downturn.

The total number of jobless in the country decreased to 3.34 million in October, down 100,000 from a year earlier, the government said. Those with jobs increased 150,000 to 62.86 million.

The unemployment rate counts only those who are actively looking for work, not individuals who have dropped out of the job market entirely.

Separately, Tokyo said that household spending fell a real 0.4 percent in October from a month earlier.