Unemployment Rate in Japan remained unchanged at 2.50 percent in May. 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.

Historical chart and dataset showing Japan unemployment rate by year from 1991 to 2024.

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.

Graph and download economic data for Infra-Annual Labor Statistics: Unemployment Rate Total: From 55 to 64 Years for Japan (LRUN55TTJPM156N) from Jan 1968 to Apr 2025 about 55 to 64 years, Japan, unemployment, and rate.

Youth Unemployment Rate in Japan increased to 4.20 percent in February from 3.70 percent in January 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.

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.

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.

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 Apr 2025 about harmonized, Japan, unemployment, persons, and rate.

In May 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 jobseekers.

Japan JP: NAIRU: Equilibrium Unemployment Rate data was reported at 2.858 % in 2022. This records a decrease from the previous number of 2.886 % for 2021. Japan JP: NAIRU: Equilibrium Unemployment Rate data is updated yearly, averaging 3.318 % from Dec 1985 (Median) to 2022, with 38 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 4.375 % in 2003 and a record low of 2.257 % in 1985. Japan JP: NAIRU: Equilibrium Unemployment Rate 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: Non-Accelerating Inflation Rate of Unemployment (NAIRU): Forecast: OECD Member: Annual. NAIRU - Equilibrium unemployment rate The equilibrium unemployment rate (code NAIRU) is estimated using a Kalman filter in a Phillips curve framework which assumes inflation expectations are anchored at the central bank’s inflation target . The NAIRU is then projected forward from the last estimated period using a simple autoregressive rule, exceptionally modified to account for recent labour market reforms, until the end of the forecasting horizon More details on methodology in Rusticelli E., Turner D. and M. C. Cavalleri (2015), Incorporating anchored inflation expectations in the Phillips Curve and in the derivation of OECD measures of equilibrium unemployment, OECD Economics Department Working Papers No.1231 OECD, Economics Department Working Papers: Incorporating anchored inflation expectations in the Phillips Curve and in the derivation of OECD measures of equilibrium unemployment:https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/economics/incorporating-anchored-inflation-expectations-in-the-phillips-curve-and-in-the-derivation-of-oecd-measures-of-equilibrium-unemployment_5js1gmq551wd-en

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.

Japan Unemployment Rate: Region: Chugoku, Shikoku data was reported at 2.300 % in Sep 2018. This stayed constant from the previous number of 2.300 % for Jun 2018. Japan Unemployment Rate: Region: Chugoku, Shikoku data is updated quarterly, averaging 3.200 % from Mar 1983 (Median) to Sep 2018, with 143 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 5.200 % in Jun 2003 and a record low of 1.600 % in Dec 1991. Japan Unemployment Rate: Region: Chugoku, Shikoku 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.

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 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.

Employment Rate in Japan increased to 62.30 percent in May from 61.90 percent in April of 2025. This dataset provides - Japan Employment Rate- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

OECD Data Filters: REF_AREA: JPN MEASURE: UNE_LF UNIT_MEASURE: PT_LF_SUB TRANSFORMATION: _Z ADJUSTMENT: Y SEX: _T AGE: Y15T64 ACTIVITY: _Z FREQ: M

All OECD data should be cited as follows: OECD (year), (dataset name), (data source) DOI or https://data-explorer.oecd.org/ (https://data-explorer.oecd.org/). (accessed on (date)).

Japan JP: Unemployment Rate data was reported at 2.808 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 3.117 % for 2016. Japan JP: Unemployment Rate data is updated yearly, averaging 3.592 % from Dec 1985 (Median) to 2017, with 33 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 5.375 % in 2002 and a record low of 2.100 % in 1991. Japan JP: Unemployment Rate data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by International Monetary Fund. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Japan – Table JP.IMF.IFS: Labour Force, Employment and Unemployment: Annual.

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 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, 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 June of 2025.