News

Japan Jobless Rate Falls to 4-Month Low
Japan’s unemployment rate unexpectedly was at 2.9 percent in November 2020, the lowest since July, compared with market consensus and October's figure of 3.1 percent. The number of unemployed declined by 160 thousand from the previous month to 1.98 million in November, while employment increased by 430 thousand to 67.01 million. The non-seasonally adjusted labor force participation rate currently edged down to 62.3 percent from 62.4 in October. Meantime, the jobs-to-application ratio rose to 1.06, the highest in four months, from 1.04 in the previous month. A year earlier, the unemployment rate was at 2.2 percent.
Published on 2020-12-24

Japan’s Jobless Rate Edges Up
Japan’s unemployment rate inched up to 3.1 percent in October from 3.0 percent in the previous month, up from 2.4 percent in the same month of the previous year. The print matched expectations and was the highest since May 2017. The number of employed persons increased by 30 thousand to 66.58 million, while the number of unemployed increased by 80 thousand to 21.4 million. Meanwhile, the jobs-to-application ratio inched up to 1.04 from 1.03 in the previous month, surpassing consensus of also 1.03.
Published on 2020-11-30

Japan Jobless Rate Rises to Over 3-Year High
The unemployment rate in Japan edged up to 3.0 percent in August 2020 compared to 2.9 percent in the prior month, matching market expectations. It was still the highest jobless rate since May 2017 and is higher than the 2.2 percent in the same month of the previous month. The number of unemployed increased by 4.6 percent to 2.05 million while employment edged up 0.2 percent to 66.59 million. The jobs-to-applicants ratio slumped to 1.04 in August from 1.08 in July, marking the lowest reading since January 2014.
Published on 2020-10-01

Japan Jobless Rate Inches Up to 2.9%
The unemployment rate in Japan edged up to 2.9 percent in July 2020 compared to 2.8 percent in the prior month and market expectations of 3 percent. It was still the highest jobless rate since May 2017 and is higher than the 2.2 percent in the same month of the previous month. The number of unemployed increased by percent to 1.96 million while employment edged up 0.2 percent to 66.48 million. The jobs-to-applicants ratio slumped to 1.08 in July from 1.11 in June, marking the lowest reading since April 2014.
Published on 2020-08-31

Japan Unemployment Rate Jumps to 2.9%
The unemployment rate in Japan jumped to 2.9 percent in May 2020 compared to 2.6 percent in the prior month and market expectations of 2.8 percent. It is the highest jobless rate since May of 2017 and is higher than the 2.4 percent in the same month of the previous month. The number of unemployed increased by 10.7 percent to 1.97 million while employment edged up 0.1 percent to 66.29 million. The jobs-to-applications ratio declined sharply to 1.2 from 1.32, as the Covid-19 crisis escalated.
Published on 2020-06-29

Japan Unemployment Rate Inches Up to 2.6%
The unemployment rate in Japan edged up to 2.6 percent in April 2020 compared to 2.5 percent in the prior month and market expectations of 2.7 percent. It is the highest jobless rate since December of 2017 as the number of unemployed increased by 3.5 percent to 1.78 million while employment declined by 1.6 percent to 66.25 million. The jobs-to-applications ratio declined sharply to 1.32, the lowest since March 2016, as the Covid-19 crisis escalated.
Published on 2020-05-28

Japan Unemployment Rate Inches Up to 1-Year High
The unemployment rate in Japan edged up to 2.5 percent in March 2020, the highest in a year and in line with market consensus, as the number of unemployed increased by 3.6 percent to 1.72 million while employment declined by 0.2 percent to 67.32 million. The jobs-to-applications ratio declined sharply to 1.39 to the lowest level since September 2016 as the Covid-19 crisis escalated.
Published on 2020-04-28

Japan Jobless Rate Unchanged in February
The unemployment rate in Japan stood at 2.4 percent in February 2020 to match consensus, as the number of unemployed increased by 1.2 percent to 1.66 million while employment was unchanged at 67.43 million. The jobs-to-applications ratio declined sharply to 1.45, the lowest in three years. Unemployment has stoically resisted fourteen straight months of falling Japanese exports in the midst of trade disputes and a downturn in the global manufacturing cycle led by the automotive and semiconductors industries.
Published on 2020-03-30

Japan Unemployment Rate Climbs to 2.4%
The unemployment rate in Japan climbed to 2.4 percent in January 2020 from 2.2 percent in the previous month, amid renewed economic weakness and calls for stimulus to combat declining global growth as the coronavirus outbreak intensifies. Meanwhile, the jobs-to-applications ratio declined sharply to 1.49, the lowest since May 2017. Unemployment has stoically resisted thirteen straight months of falling Japanese exports in the midst of trade disputes and a downturn in the global manufacturing cycle led by the automotive and semiconductors industries.
Published on 2020-02-27

Japan Unemployment Rate Steady at 2.2%
The unemployment rate in Japan remained unchanged at 2.2 percent in December 2019, slightly below market expectations of 2.3 percent, amid the ongoing labour shortage due to the rapidly graying population. Meanwhile, the jobs-to-applications ratio also remained unchanged at 1.57 (versus consensus of 1.56). Unemployment has stoically resisted thirteen straight months of falling Japanese exports in the midst of trade disputes and a downturn in the global manufacturing cycle led by the automotive and semiconductors industries. The annual average jobless rate for 2019 stood at 2.4 percent, unchanged from 2018 and the lowest level since 1992.
Published on 2020-01-30

Japan Unemployment Rate Falls to 2.2%
The unemployment rate in Japan declined to 2.2 percent in November 2019 from 2.4 percent in the previous month, well below market expectations of 2.4 percent and matching a three-month low. The jobs-to-applications ratio remained unchanged at 1.57 and matched consensus.
Published on 2019-12-26

Japan Unemployment Rate Unchanged at 2.4%
The unemployment rate in Japan remained steady at 2.4 percent in October 2019, matching market expectations despite steep declines in industrial production and exports in October. The jobs-to-applications ratio remained unchanged at 1.57, slightly above market expectations of 1.56.
Published on 2019-11-29

Japan Unemployment Rate Climbs to 2.4%
The unemployment rate in Japan rose to 2.4 percent in September 2019, rebounding from near 30-year lows and topping market expectations of 2.3 percent. The jobs-to-applications ratio fell to 1.57, the lowest since November 2017 and below market expectations of 1.59.
Published on 2019-10-31

Japan Jobless Rate Still at 26-Year Low
The unemployment rate in Japan remained unchanged at 2.2 percent in August 2019, the lowest since October 1992 and below market expectations of 2.3 percent. The jobs-to-applications ratio also remained steady at 1.59, the lowest since March 2018 but above market expectations of 1.58.
Published on 2019-09-30

Japan Jobless Rate Falls to 26-Year Low
The unemployment rate in Japan fell to 2.2 percent in July 2019, the lowest since October 1992 and below market expectations of 2.4 percent. The jobs-to-applications ratio declined to 1.59, the lowest since March 2018 and also below consensus of 1.61.
Published on 2019-08-29

Japan Jobless Rate Falls to 4-Month Low of 2.3%
The unemployment rate in Japan decreased to a 4-month low of 2.3 percent in June 2019 from 2.4 percent in May and compared to market expectations of 2.4 percent. The jobs-to-applications ratio declined to 1.61 from 1.62 in the previous month and slightly below market consensus of 1.62.
Published on 2019-07-30

Japan Unemployment Rate Stays at 2.4%
The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Japan remained at 2.4 percent in May 2019, matching market expectations. Meanwhile, the jobs-to-applicants ratio edged down to 1.62 from 1.63 in the previous month and market expectations also of 1.63.
Published on 2019-06-27

Japan Unemployment Rate Drops to 2.4%
The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Japan declined to 2.4 percent in April 2019, after climbing 20 bps to 2.5 percent in the previous month and matching market expectations. Meanwhile, the jobs-to-applicants ratio remained unchanged at a high level of 1.63 to also match expectations.
Published on 2019-05-31

Japan March Jobless Rate Above Estimates
The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Japan increased unexpectedly to 2.5 percent in March 2019 from a five-month low of 2.3 percent in the previous month while markets had expected 2.4 percent. Meanwhile, the jobs-to-applicants ratio remained unchanged at a high level of 1.63 but slightly below consensus of 1.64.
Published on 2019-04-25

Japan Jobless Rate Falls to 5-Month Low
The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Japan dropped unexpectedly to 2.3 percent in February 2019 from 2.5 percent in the previous month while markets had expected 2.5 percent. It was the lowest jobless rate since September last year. Meanwhile, the jobs-to-applicants ratio remained unchanged at 1.63 and in line with consensus.
Published on 2019-03-28