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News Bulletin
RECENT RELEASE
2009 yearly average results of Labour Force Survey Released
[Introduction]
The SBJ released the 2009 yearly average results (Basic Tabulation) on January 29, 2010.
The Labour Force Survey is conducted to provide monthly data on the employment and unemployment situation covering the population aged 15 years old or more, for evaluating economic conditions and making labour policies in Japan.
[Summary]
Since 2008, the global economical recession has had a serious influence on the Japanese labour market. Some economic indicators, including the number of employed persons and unemployment rate, marked a historic record of their change in 2009.
Employment
Compared with the previous year, the number of employed persons was 62.82 million, a decrease of 1.03 million, which was the highest decrease since 1954*1).
By industry, "Manufacturing" decreased by 710 thousand, while "Medical, health care and welfare" increased.
Unemployment
Compared with the previous year, the number of unemployed persons was 3.36 million, an increase of 710 thousand. Of these, the number of those who "Quit their job involuntarily"*2) was 1.45 million, an increase of 570 thousand.
The unemployment rate was 5.1%, up by 1.1 points, which was the highest increase since 1954*1).
Unemployed Persons and Unemployment Rate
*1) A time-series comparison is applicable to the data from 1954.
*2) Those who "Quit their job involuntarily" are those who quit their job because of "Mandatory retirement, termination of employment contract" and "Circumstances of employer or business".
(Source) Labour Force Survey (SBJ)
The 2009 yearly average results (Basic Tabulation) were released on January 29, 2010, and the 2009 yearly average results (Detailed Tabulation) were released on February 22, 2010. The Annual Report published in May.
For further details, see the website below.
http://www.stat.go.jp/english/data/roudou/index.htm