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News Bulletin

RECENT RELEASE

2012 Unemployment rate decreased by 0.3 points

Introduction

   The SBJ released the 2012 yearly average results (Basic Tabulation) on February 1, 2013.

   The Labour Force Survey (LFS) is conducted to provide monthly data on the employment and unemployment situation covering the population aged 15 years old and over, for evaluating economic conditions and making labour policies in Japan.

   The LFS has been revised in accordance with the 2010 Census-based population estimates since January 2012. However, "change from the previous year" indicates comparison with 2011 data, which was retroactively calculated from the 2010 Census base data.

Employment

   The annual average number of employed persons in 2012 was 62.70 million, a decrease of 190 thousand from the previous year.

   With regard to the number of employed persons by industries, "Manufacturing" and "Wholesale and retail trade" decreased from the previous year, while "Medical, health care and welfare" increased.

   The annual average number of Labour force was 65.55 million, a decrease of 360 thousand from the previous year. The annual average Labour force participation rate was 59.1%.

Unemployment

   The annual average number of unemployed persons in 2012 was 2.85 million, a decrease of 170 thousand from the previous year. The number of unemployed persons who "Quit their job involuntarily"^* was 1.02 million, a decrease of 120 thousand from the previous year.

   The annual average unemployment rate in 2012 was 4.3%, a decrease of 0.3 points from the previous year.

Unemployed Persons and Unemployment Rate

Note: * 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".

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