Unemployment Rate in Japan increased to 2.60 percent in August from 2.30 percent in July of 2025. 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.

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 Total: From 15 to 24 Years for Japan (LFHU24TTJPM647S) from Jan 1970 to Aug 2025 about 15 to 24 years, Japan, and unemployment.

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 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, 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.

The number of unemployed persons in Japan decreased to 1680 Thousand in February of 2025 from 1740 Thousand in January of 2025. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - Japan Unemployed Persons - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus 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, 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.

In 2024, unemployment affected approximately **** million people in Japan, marking a decrease from the previous year. The number of unemployed people decreased by over *** million compared to 2002 when unemployment was the highest in the last two decades.

Graph and download economic data for Infra-Annual Labor Statistics: Unemployment Rate Total: 15 Years or over for Japan (LRUNTTTTJPM156N) from Jan 1955 to Aug 2025 about 15 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.

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.

Japan Unemployment: Male data was reported at 1,040.000 Person th in Mar 2025. This records an increase from the previous number of 940.000 Person th for Feb 2025. Japan Unemployment: Male data is updated monthly, averaging 910.000 Person th from Jan 1953 (Median) to Mar 2025, with 867 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2,400.000 Person th in Mar 2003 and a record low of 250.000 Person th in Oct 1964. Japan Unemployment: Male data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistical Bureau. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Japan – Table JP.G: Labour Force Survey: Unemployment. Statistics Bureau has complemented the data for this period by estimating 'Employed person', 'Unemployed person' and 'Not in labour force' in the devastated quake-hit prefectures(Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima) from related statistics such as 'Monthly Labour Survey' and 'Employment referrals for general workers'. The figures are not official data but rather referential ones for time-series comparison. Therefore, the data can be obtained by summation of series ID 176574302 & 23993301 as alternative. [COVID-19-IMPACT]

Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) in Japan was reported at 2.563 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Japan - Unemployment, total - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on September of 2025.

Japan JP: Employment Rate Gap data was reported at 0.854 % in 2026. This records an increase from the previous number of 0.294 % for 2025. Japan JP: Employment Rate Gap data is updated yearly, averaging -0.112 % from Dec 1985 (Median) to 2026, with 42 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.854 % in 2026 and a record low of -1.235 % in 2021. Japan JP: Employment Rate Gap data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Japan – Table JP.OECD.EO: Employment and Unemployment: Forecast: OECD Member: Annual.

Unemployment with advanced education (% of total labor force with advanced education) in Japan was reported at 2.47 % in 2020, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Japan - Unemployment with advanced education (% of total unemployment) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on October of 2025.