Monthly unemployment rates in Japan
Japan: Monthly unemployment rates was 2.51 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup in 2025. ▲ Rising
Monthly unemployment rates in Japan, 1955–2025
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup.
Analysis
The most recent figure for monthly unemployment rates in Japan is 2.51 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 1.6% on the previous year and down 25.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, monthly unemployment rates in Japan peaked at 5.38 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup in 2002 and was at its lowest, 1.12 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup, in 1969.
Japan ranks 32nd of 32 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 71 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 2.2 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 1.93 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 2.51 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 5 |
| 1960s | 1.29 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 1.12 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 1.62 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.67 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 1.15 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 2.24 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.5 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 2.01 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 2.85 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.04 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 2.1 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 4.68 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.66 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 3.84 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 5.38 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.57 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 2.35 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 5.05 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.64 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 2.51 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 2.82 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 6 |
Countries ranked near Japan
More work & labour data for Japan
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.4984 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.5262 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.4728 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -2.25 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate -0.4618 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 103,039 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 5,756 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 39,867 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 36,979 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 76,846 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is monthly unemployment rates in Japan?
- Monthly unemployment rates in Japan was 2.51 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup in 2025, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest monthly unemployment rates recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 5.38 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup in 2002.
- What is the lowest monthly unemployment rates recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.12 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup in 1969.
- How does Japan rank for monthly unemployment rates?
- Japan ranks 32nd out of 32 countries with data for 2025.
- Is monthly unemployment rates rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 25.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Japan data come from?
- The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Monthly unemployment rates. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 71 observations, free to reuse under OECD Terms and Conditions (attribution required).
About this data
The infra-annual dataflow on the monthly unemployment rate is a subset of the infra-annual labour statistics database, which contains predominantly monthly and quarterly statistics on the unemployed population by age groups (15+, 15-24, 25-54, 55-64, 15-64 and 15-74 where available) and sex and associated statistical methodological information and associated statistical methodological information, for the OECD member countries and for selected other economies. The unemployment rate is calculated as the number of unemployed persons as a percentage of the labour force (i.e., the unemployed plus those in employment). The unemployed are persons in their working age who, in the reference period, do not have a job; are available for work; and, have taken specific steps to find a job. Chile, Costa Rica, and the United Kingdom publish Labour Force Survey (LFS) data using a rolling quarter methodology. The OECD treats the middle month of the rolling quarter as the reference month. As a result, the publication of monthly LFS data for these countries may be delayed by one month or more relative to the OECD reference month. The infra-annual labour statistics compiled for all OECD member countries, are drawn from Labour Force Surveys based on definition provided by the 19th Conference of Labour Statisticians in 2013. The uniform application of these definitions across all OECD member countries results in estimates that are internationally comparable.