Japan Employment

Data Employment

Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan
Source Link: https://www.stat.go.jp/
Frequency: Monthly
Next Release(s): January 29th, 2026 7:30 PM

Latest Updates

Japan’s unemployment rate was unchanged at 2.6% (vs 2.6% expected) for the fourth month in a row in November.
- The total number of employed increased 50k (or 0.1% MoM), while the total number of unemployed fell -40k (or -2.2% MoM).
- The prime age labor force participation rate was unchanged at 82.6% but up 0.8 ppts from a year ago.
- The prime age employment rate edged up 0.1 ppts to 80.5% and was up 0.7 ppts from a year ago.
Source
Japan’s unemployment rate remained unchanged at 2.6% (vs 2.5% expected) in October, remaining at the highest level since July 2024.
- Total employment increased by 10k, or 0.0% MoM, while the total number of unemployed individuals fell by -10k, or -0.5% MoM. The labor force edged up 10k, basically unchanged.
- The prime age labor force participation rate increased 0.1 ppts to 82.6% after an increase in the prime age labor force of 0.2% MoM.
- The prime age employment rate increased 0.1 ppts to 80.4% after an increase in the prime age employment rate of 0.2% MoM.
Source
Japan’s unemployment rate remained unchanged at 2.6% (vs 2.5% expected) in September, remaining at the highest level since July 2024.
- Total employment increased by 240k, or 0.4% MoM, while the total number of unemployed individuals increased just 20k, or 1.1% MoM. The labor force increased 250k, or 0.4% MoM.
- The prime age labor force participation rate increased 0.2 ppts to 82.5% and was up 0.6 ppts from a year ago.
- The prime age employment rate increased 0.3 ppts to 80.3% and was up 0.5 ppts from a year ago.
Source
Japan’s unemployment rate increased 0.3 ppts to 2.6% (vs 2.4% expected) in August, the highest since July 2024.
- Total employment dropped by -290k, or -0.5% MoM, while the total number of unemployed individuals increased by 150k, or 9.1% MoM. The size of the labor force shrank by -40k, or -0.1% MoM.
- The prime age labor force participation rate edged down 0.1 ppt to 82.3% but was still up 0.3 ppts from a year ago.
- The prime age employment rate dropped -0.4 ppts to 80.0% but was up 0.2 ppts from a year ago.
Source
Japan's unemployment rate eased -0.2 ppts to 2.3% (vs 2.5% expected) in July, the lowest rate of joblessness since December 2019.
- The number of employed fell by -10k, but that was offset by a -80k decline in the number of unemployed. The labor force dropped -11k or -0.2% MoM, leading to a 15k, or 0.4% MoM, increase in those not in the labor force.
- The prime age labor force participation rate fell -0.3 ppts to 82.4%, but it was still up 0.5 ppts from a year ago.
- The prime age employment rate also fell, down -0.2 ppts to 80.4%, but it was still up 0.8 ppts from a year ago.
Japan’s unemployment rate was unchanged at 2.5% in June for the fourth straight month, in line with consensus expectations.
- Total employment fell -50k, down -0.1% MoM, while total unemployment was basically unchanged.
- The prime age labor force increased again, up 0.4 ppts MoM and up 0.7 ppts YoY to 82.7%.
- The prime age employment rate continued to increase as well, up 0.5 ppts MoM and 0.9 ppts YoY to 80.6%.
Japan’s unemployment rate was unchanged at 2.5% in May, in line with consensus expectations.
- Total employment increased 330k, up 0.5% MoM, and total unemployment fell -40k, or -2.3% MoM.
- The prime age labor force participation rate increased 0.3 ppts to 82.3%, adding to the strong 0.6 ppts increase in April.
- The prime age employment rate increased 0.4 ppts over the month and 1.1 ppts over the last year to 80.1%.
Japan’s unemployment rate was unchanged at 2.5% in April which is in line with consensus expectations.
- Total employment fell -40k or -0.1% MoM, and total unemployment increased 30k or 1.7% MoM.
- The prime age labor force participation rate increased 0.6 ppts to 82.0% after falling in the first quarter of the year.
- The prime age employment rate bounced back to 79.7%, after falling to the lowest since May 2024 in March.
Japan’s unemployment rate increased 0.1 ppt to 2.5% in March, slightly above expectations of the rate staying unchanged at 2.4%.
- Total employment fell -80k or -0.1% MoM, and total unemployment increased 50k or 3.0% MoM.
- The labor force participation rate remained unchanged at 81.3%, the lowest in over a year.
- The prime age employment rate ticked down again, dropping -0.2 ppts to 79.1%, the lowest since May 2024.
Japan’s unemployment rate fell -0.1 ppt to 2.4% in February, the lowest rate since September 2024 and slightly below forecasts that saw the rate staying at 2.5%.
- Total employment fell -110k or -0.2% MoM, and total unemployment fell -60k or -3.4% MoM.
- The labor force participation rate continued to fall, down -0.4 ppts to 81.3%, the lowest since December 2023.
- Alongside the drop in participation was a drop in the employment rate of -0.4 ppts to 79.3, the lowest since April 2024.
Japan’s unemployment rate was unchanged at 2.5% in January, slightly above expectations of a 2.4% reading. The rate has remained unchanged for four straight months.
- Total employment increased by 130k, and total unemployment increased by 20k to 1.74 million.
- The labor force participation rate fell -0.3 ppts to 81.7%, the lowest since May 2024.
- With the drop in participation, the employment rate also fell -0.3 ppts to 79.7%, the lowest since July 2024.
Japan’s unemployment rate ticked down -0.1 ppt to 2.4%, below expectations that it would remain at 2.5% in December. Employment increased by 140,000 while unemployed declined by -20,000 and about -200,000 left the labor force. Despite the decline in the labor force in December, prime age labor force participation increased 0.2 ppts to 82.0%. The employment rate also increased by 0.2 ppts to 80.0%. A strong labor market will continue to support wage growth in Japan.