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Historical data

Information

• "2022 revision of benchmark population"
  Using the latest results of the Population Census as the base, the benchmark population for calculating the results of the Labour Force Survey is revised every five years.
  The revision to 2020 Census-based population estimates was held in January 2022 for Basic Tabulation, and in Jan. - Mar. 2022 for Detailed Tabulation.
  (on March 4 and revised on May 13, 2022)

Previously released information

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Statistical tables (Basic tabulation)

Statistical tables (Detailed tabulation)

Notes

Concerning historical data

1. Concerning the data on Jan.-Mar. 1953, attention needs to be paid when time series comparison because these figures are on the effects of the sampling frame reform in 1952-53.
2. "*" indicates that Okinawa-ken is not included in the figures (January 1953-June 1972).
3. The data prior to January 1978 are the compatible time-series data that are adjusted to the effects of the methodological reform in 1967 and the benchmark revision in 1975. On this account, the data prior to 1978 is different from the data of the annual report published in each year.
4. Using the latest results of the Population Census as the base, the Population Estimates are revised every five years according to the release of new results of the Census conducted every five years. Therefore, the benchmark population for calculating the results of the Labour Force Survey is revised every five years.
   The revision to 2020 Census-based population estimates was held in January 2022 for Basic Tabulation, and in Jan.-Mar. 2022 for Detailed Tabulation.
         cf. Sampling Method, Estimation Method, and Sampling Errors of Estimates (PDF:522KB)
   In order to remove the gaps, data from October 2015 through December 2021 have been adjusted to comparable time-series data (the intercensal-level adjustment data or the retroactive adjustment data).
         cf. 2022 revision of benchmark population
5. Concerning the regional results, the figures prior to 1983 are not available.
6. Due to the Great East Japan Earthquake, results for whole Japan and Tohoku are missing from March through August 2011. So "Supplementary-estimated figures" have been used. "< >" indicates that supplementary estimated figures (Referential figures).

Concerning seasonally adjusted figures

1. Seasonally adjusted figures are calculated by removing seasonal components from the original series, using the U.S. Census method (X12-ARIMA (sigmalim = (9.8, 9.9)). Further explanation on seasonal adjustment is described in Seasonal Adjustment - X-12-ARIMA -
2. The data carried for seasonal adjustments are the original series represented in this table. The data excluding Okinawa-ken prior to July 1972 and the data including Okinawa-ken since July 1972 are used for the seasonal adjustments.
   Due to the Great East Japan Earthquake, results for whole Japan are missing from March through August 2011. So "Supplementary-estimated figures" are inputted for computing seasonal factors.
3. The seasonally adjusted figures released monthly are calculated by using the predicted seasonal factors, which are estimated through seasonal adjustments of the data up to December of the previous year. On the release of January results, the seasonal adjustments are computed retroactively by adding new data for twelve months of the previous year.
4. Concerning the seasonally adjusted figures for unemployed person and unemployment rate aged 65 years old and over, figures for males and females are not computed.

Others

1. In the Labour Force Survey results, the number of employed persons is classified by the Japan Standard Industrial Classification (JSIC). With the 12th revision of the JSIC, the Statistics Bureau started providing the Labour Force Survey results by the new industrial classification from January 2009 results, and computed 2007-2008 results retroactively. As for the data till 2006, figures of industries which have no or small influence by the revision are shown. And retroactive-estimated figures, which were calculated in a simple way, of industries which have big influence by the revision are shown with parentheses "( )" as a reference.
   Please refer to "Revision of industrial classification for the Labour Force Survey results"(PDF:59KB).
   With the 13th revision of the JSIC, the Statistics Bureau started providing the Labour Force Survey results by the new industrial classification from January 2016 results.In the Labour Force Survey, the results classified by JSIC revision 12th and JSIC revision 13th are directly comparable.
2. Concerning the number of unemployed persons by reason for seeking a job, the figures prior to 1984 are not available. Because the selection of reasons for seeking a job was changed and subdivided from January 2002, attention needs to be paid when time series comparison.
3. For other notes, please refer to "Notes on the results".

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