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Unemployment rate · Japan

Japan Unemployment Rate

The Japan Unemployment Rate measures the share of the labour force in Japan, people working or actively looking for work, who have no job but want one.

Importance
High
Released
Monthly
Next release
Currency
JPY · Japanese yen
Central bank
The Bank of Japan
Moves
AUDJPY# · CADJPY# · CHFJPY# · EURJPY# · GBPJPY# · NZDJPY# · SGDJPY# · USDJPY

Latest figures

The latest release for SEP, published on 29 October 2026, came in at 2.4%, below the consensus of 2.5%, down from 2.5% the time before.

A lower unemployment rate than expected signals a tight labour market: it tends to support the Japanese yen and push bond yields up.

Over the last 12 releases it ranged from 2.4% to 2.7%, averaging 2.6%.

Nov 2025: 2.6%Dec 2025: 2.6%Jan 2026: 2.6%Mar 2026: 2.7%Mar 2026: 2.6%Apr 2026: 2.7%May 2026: 2.5%Jun 2026: 2.5%Jul 2026: 2.5%Aug 2026: 2.4%Oct 2026: 2.5%Oct 2026: 2.4% Nov 2025Oct 2026
Actual results; the short line on a bar marks the consensus.
ReleasedForActualConsensusPrevious
29 Oct 2026SEP2.4%2.5%2.5%
1 Oct 2026AUG2.5%2.4%2.4%
27 Aug 2026JUL2.4%2.5%2.5%
30 Jul 2026JUN2.5%2.5%2.5%
29 Jun 2026MAY2.5%2.5%2.5%
28 May 2026APR2.5%2.7%2.7%
27 Apr 2026MAR2.7%2.6%2.6%
30 Mar 2026FEB2.6%2.7%2.7%
2 Mar 2026JAN2.7%2.6%2.6%
29 Jan 2026DEC2.6%2.6%2.6%
25 Dec 2025NOV2.6%2.6%2.6%
27 Nov 2025OCT2.6%2.5%2.6%

See it in the economic calendar →

Why it matters

Full employment is part of most central banks' mandate. A falling unemployment rate means a tighter labour market, faster wage growth and more inflation pressure, which can keep the Bank of Japan hawkish; a rising rate is one of the clearest recession signals (the US "Sahm rule" flags a 0.5-point rise in the three-month average).

How it is calculated

the Statistics Bureau and the Cabinet Office usually runs a household survey: people are counted as unemployed if they had no work, were available and looked for a job recently. The rate is unemployed ÷ (employed + unemployed). Registered jobless and claimant counts instead count people signed on for benefits. Participation is the labour force ÷ working-age population.

Unemployment rate = unemployed ÷ labour force × 100
Labour force = employed + unemployed

What changes mean

  • A lower rate than expected usually supports the Japanese yen.
  • Check participation: unemployment can fall because people stop looking, which is not good news.
  • Broader measures (US U-6) include part-timers who want more hours.

Higher than expected: A higher unemployment rate than expected points to a weakening labour market: the Japanese yen tends to soften as markets price in lower rates.

Lower than expected: A lower unemployment rate than expected signals a tight labour market: it tends to support the Japanese yen and push bond yields up.

A short history

Systematic unemployment statistics began in the 1930s Depression; the International Labour Organization's definition, adopted in 1982, is used by most countries today.

Questions

What is the Japan Unemployment Rate?

The Japan Unemployment Rate measures the share of the labour force in Japan, people working or actively looking for work, who have no job but want one.

What was the latest Japan Unemployment Rate?

2.4% for SEP, published on 29 October 2026 (consensus 2.5%, previous 2.5%).

When is the next Japan Unemployment Rate?

On Monday 30 November 2026 at 23:30 UTC.

Educational content only, not investment advice. Figures are the published results as recorded by our calendar; market reactions described are typical, not guaranteed.