Unemployment Rate in Japan remained unchanged at 2.60 percent in October. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - Japan Unemployment Rate - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

The statistic shows the unemployment rate in Japan from 1999 to 2024. In 2024, the unemployment rate in Japan was at about 2.56 percent. Employment and the economy in Japan Japan is one of the leading countries when it comes to economic key factors; its unemployment rate, for example, is lower than that of other major industrial and emerging countries. The Japanese work ethic is well-known worldwide, it is synonymous with a strong devotion to the company and to the task at hand; competition among co-workers and loyalty to the company are common and encouraged, working hours and over-time work are said to be excessive. The Japanese language even has its own term for sudden death from being overworked – “Karoshi”. After the devastating effects of World War II, Japan managed to recover economically and even earn a prominent role among other leading economic powers – a fact which is probably partly due to this attitude towards work and employment. Today, Japan is among the leading import countries worldwide, as well as the leading export countries worldwide. Additionally, Japan is one of the 20 countries with the largest proportion of the global domestic product, and also among the 20 countries with the largest gross domestic product per capita, even though it is also ranked tenth among the leading countries with the largest population.

View monthly updates and historical trends for Japan Unemployment Rate. Source: Japan Statistics Bureau. Track economic data with YCharts analytics.

Graph and download economic data for Infra-Annual Labor Statistics: Monthly Unemployment Rate Total: From 15 to 24 Years for Japan (LRHU24TTJPM156N) from Jan 1968 to Sep 2025 about 15 to 24 years, harmonized, Japan, unemployment, and rate.

In September 2025, the unemployment rate in Japan stood at *** percent for men and *** percent for women. The lowest unemployment rate in the observed period was *** percent among male and *** percent among female job seekers.

In 2024, the unemployment rate in Japan stood at *** percent for men and *** percent for women. That year, there were close to *** million people who were unemployed despite actively searching for a job.

In 2024, the unemployment rate in the Okinawa area was around *** percent, the highest among regions in Japan. In contrast, the Hokuriku area had the lowest unemployment rate with *** percent.

Employment Rate in Japan increased to 62.50 percent in September from 62.30 percent in August of 2025. This dataset provides - Japan Employment Rate- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Key information about Japan Unemployment Rate

• Japan Unemployment Rate remained the same at 2.50% in Jan 2025, from the previously reported figure of 2.50% in Dec 2024.
• Japan Unemployment Rate is updated monthly, available from Jan 1953 to Jan 2025, with an average rate of 2.50%.
• The data reached an all-time high of 5.50% in Jul 2009 and a record low of 1.00% in Mar 1970.
• The data is reported by reported by Statistical Bureau.
• In the latest reports, Japan Population reached 123.74 million people in Dec 2024.

In 2024, about *** percent of men in Japan aged 20 to 24 years were unemployed, although they were actively searching for a job. The unemployment rate of women was highest among the age groups of ** to ** and ** to ** at around *** percent.

Youth Unemployment Rate in Japan decreased to 3.90 percent in June from 4.40 percent in May of 2025. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - Japan Youth Unemployment Rate - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

Graph and download economic data for Infra-Annual Labor Statistics: Monthly Unemployment Rate Total: 15 Years or over for Japan (LRHUTTTTJPM156S) from Jan 1955 to Sep 2025 about harmonized, Japan, persons, unemployment, and rate.

As of March 2025, South Africa had the highest unemployment rate among the 19* countries that are members of the G20. The unemployment rate in South Africa stood at **** percent that year. The country has recently been plagued by an economic downturn, including energy shortages and high unemployment levels. On the other hand, Japan had the lowest unemployment rate at just *** percent. Economic inequality in South Africa Not only does South Africa top the G20 in overall unemployment, but it also has a significant level of youth unemployment, as nearly half of the young population is unemployed. Thirty years after the end of Apartheid, South Africa is also still one of the most unequal countries in the world, with a Gini score of ****. The prominence of inequality in the country makes escaping unemployment and underemployment difficult. Japanese economic slowdown While Japan had the lowest unemployment rate out of all G20 nations, as well as the lowest youth unemployment rate out of the G20 nations, Japan’s economy is still facing many challenges. With an aging population, the total Japanese population is facing a rapid decline, meaning that it will struggle to have enough workers participating in the labor market. Despite this, Japan maintains strict immigration policies, limiting the chances for foreign workers to move to Japan. Moreover, Japan has the second lowest fertility rate out of the G7 nations and one of the lowest fertility rates globally, adding another challenge in addressing population shrinkage.

In 2024, the youth unemployment rate in Japan stood at 3.93 percent. Between 1991 and 2024, the figure dropped by 0.53 percentage points, though the decline followed an uneven course rather than a steady trajectory.

In 2024, around **** percent of the population aged ** to ** years old in Japan were unemployed, the highest share among all age groups. Japan's unemployment rate has been comparatively low compared to other major industrial and emerging countries.

In 2024, the employment rate in Japan reached **** percent, up from about **** percent in the previous year. Japan's unemployment rate has been comparatively low compared to other major industrial and emerging countries.

Graph and download economic data for Infra-Annual Labor Statistics: Unemployment Rate Total: From 15 to 64 Years for Japan (LRUN64TTJPM156N) from Jan 1968 to Sep 2025 about 15 to 64 years, Japan, unemployment, and rate.

At *** percent in June 2025, Japan’s unemployment rate is very low compared to other advanced economies. The fact that it has remained this low for a full year would concern most economists in any other country. However, since Japan has been fighting deflation for many years, the normal rationale does not apply. Causes of unemployment Unemployment can arise from an economic recession, when demand falls and firms lay off workers. It can also be the result of workers and firms not matching, such as there being too many lawyers and not enough doctors in an area. Finally, search unemployment refers to the time between a worker ending one job and starting another. Economists consider this to be efficient in most cases because it gives firms and workers the time to find the best match. The Japanese context Japan’s inflation rate has remained stubbornly low since the 1990s, sometimes even becoming negative - or deflation. This has caused firms to delay investment and consumers to delay major purchases, which has in turn led to low GDP growth. In most economies, this would lead to high inflation. However, given the decreasing population and thus the decreasing workforce, it is possible that firms are retaining workers due to labor scarcity. It is also possible that low unemployment is a product of high government spending or low workforce participation. In any event, this statistic underscores the unique situation of the Japanese economy.

Japan Unemployment Rate: Region: Kyusyu, Okinawa data was reported at 2.600 % in Sep 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 2.700 % for Jun 2018. Japan Unemployment Rate: Region: Kyusyu, Okinawa data is updated quarterly, averaging 4.000 % from Mar 1983 (Median) to Sep 2018, with 143 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 6.600 % in Jun 2003 and a record low of 2.400 % in Dec 1992. Japan Unemployment Rate: Region: Kyusyu, Okinawa data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistical Bureau. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Japan – Table JP.G034: Labour Force Survey: Unemployment Rate by Region.

Unemployment Rate: Region: Whole Japan data was reported at 2.500 % in Sep 2018. This stayed constant from the previous number of 2.500 % for Jun 2018. Unemployment Rate: Region: Whole Japan data is updated quarterly, averaging 3.400 % from Mar 1983 (Median) to Sep 2018, with 143 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 5.500 % in Jun 2003 and a record low of 2.000 % in Jun 1992. Unemployment Rate: Region: Whole Japan data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistical Bureau. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Japan – Table JP.G034: Labour Force Survey: Unemployment Rate by Region.