Main contents start here

News Bulletin

RECENT RELEASE

Japanese unemployment rate remains unchanged

Introduction

   The SBJ released the 2010 results (Basic Tabulation) on January 28, 2011.

   The Labour Force Survey is conducted to provide monthly data on the employment and unemployment situation. It covers the population aged 15 years and older, and is used for evaluating economic conditions and making labour policies in Japan.

Summary

   The annual average unemployment rate in 2010 was 5.1%, the same rate as the previous year, which means the employment situation in Japan has not improved since the global recession in 2008.

Employment

   The annual average number of employed persons in 2010 was 62.56 million, a decrease of 260 thousand from the previous year.

   If we look at the number of employed persons by industries, we can see that "Manufacturing" decreased from the previous year, while "Medical, health care and welfare" increased.

   The annual average number of Labour force^*1 was 65.90 million, a decrease of 270 thousand from the previous year. The annual average Labour force participation rate^*2 was 59.6%, which was the lowest since 1953.

  *1   Labour force: Employed person and unemployed person among population of 15 years and older

  *2   Labour force participation rate: (Labour force) / (Population of 15 years and older) ? 100

Unemployment

   The annual average number of unemployed persons was 3.34 million, a decrease of 20 thousand from the previous year. The number of unemployed persons who "Quit their job involuntarily"^*3 was 1.37 million, a decrease of 80 thousand from the previous year.

   The annual average unemployment rate was 5.1%, the same rate as the previous year.

Unemployed Persons and Unemployment Rate

  *3   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"

Top of this page