Labor force with advanced education in Japan

Japan: Labor force with advanced education was 78.6% in 2020. ▬ Flat

Latest (2020)
78.6%
Change on year
down 0.6%
World rank
59th
of 125 countries
All-time high
79.1%
in 2019
All-time low
76.9%
in 2012
Years of data
8
2012–2020

Labor force with advanced education in Japan, 2012–2020

0204060802012201620202012: 76.9 % of total working-age population with advanced education2013: 77.5 % of total working-age population with advanced education2015: 77.6 % of total working-age population with advanced education2016: 77.7 % of total working-age population with advanced education2017: 78.1 % of total working-age population with advanced education2018: 78.3 % of total working-age population with advanced education2019: 79.1 % of total working-age population with advanced education2020: 78.6 % of total working-age population with advanced education

Source: Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO). Measured in % of total working-age population with advanced education.

Analysis

The most recent figure for labor force with advanced education in Japan is 78.6%, measured in 2020.

That represents a change of down 0.6% on the previous year and up 2.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, labor force with advanced education in Japan peaked at 79.1% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 76.9%, in 2012.

Japan ranks 59th of 125 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

Labor force with advanced education in Japan, year by year

Annual values for Labor force with advanced education (% of total working-age population with advanced education) in Japan, 2012 to 2020.
Year % of total working-age population with advanced education Change
2012 76.9%
2013 77.5% +0.8%
2015 77.6% +0.1%
2016 77.7% +0.2%
2017 78.1% +0.5%
2018 78.3% +0.3%
2019 79.1% +1.0%
2020 78.6% -0.6%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2010s 77.9% 76.9% 79.1% 7
2020s 78.6% 78.6% 78.6% 1

Countries ranked near Japan

  1. 56 Tunisia 79.0% compare
  2. 57 Botswana 78.8% compare
  3. 58 Grenada 78.6%
  4. 60 Denmark 78.6% compare
  5. 61 Argentina 78.6% compare
  6. 62 Panama 78.5% compare

See the full ranking of 144 places →

More work & labour data for Japan

All data for Japan →

Frequently asked questions

What is labor force with advanced education in Japan?
Labor force with advanced education in Japan was 78.6% in 2020, according to Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO).
What is the highest labor force with advanced education recorded in Japan?
The highest recorded value was 79.1% in 2019.
What is the lowest labor force with advanced education recorded in Japan?
The lowest recorded value was 76.9% in 2012.
How does Japan rank for labor force with advanced education?
Japan ranks 59th out of 125 countries with data for 2020.
Is labor force with advanced education rising or falling in Japan?
Over the last ten years it is up 2.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this Japan data come from?
The figures come from Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force with advanced education (% of total working-age population with advanced education). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Labor force with advanced education in Japan. Statizoid, drawing on Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO). Retrieved 30 August 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/labor-force-with-advanced-education-percent-of-total-working-age-population-with-advanced/japan/

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About this data

Indicator
Labor force with advanced education (% of total working-age population with advanced education)
Unit
% of total working-age population with advanced education
Source
Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
144 places, 2,660 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

The ratio of the labor force with advanced education to the working-age population with advanced education. Advanced education comprises short-cycle tertiary education, a bachelor’s degree or equivalent education level, a master’s degree or equivalent education level, or doctoral degree or equivalent education level according to the International Standard Classification of Education 2011 (ISCED 2011).