Strictness of employment protection — Individual dismissals in Japan
Japan: Strictness of employment protection — Individual dismissals was 1.37 0-6 scale in 2025. ▼ Falling
Strictness of employment protection — Individual dismissals in Japan, 1985–2025
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in 0-6 scale.
Analysis
Japan recorded 1.37 0-6 scale for strictness of employment protection — individual dismissals in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 41 years on record.
The figure is unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, strictness of employment protection — individual dismissals in Japan peaked at 1.7 0-6 scale in 1985 and was at its lowest, 1.37 0-6 scale, in 2007.
Japan ranks 34th of 41 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 41 years of available data.
Strictness of employment protection — Individual dismissals in Japan, year by year
| Year | 0-6 scale | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 1.7 0-6 scale | — |
| 1986 | 1.7 0-6 scale | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 1.7 0-6 scale | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 1.7 0-6 scale | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 1.7 0-6 scale | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 1.7 0-6 scale | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 1.7 0-6 scale | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 1.7 0-6 scale | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 1.7 0-6 scale | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 1.7 0-6 scale | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 1.7 0-6 scale | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 1.7 0-6 scale | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 1.7 0-6 scale | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 1.7 0-6 scale | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 1.7 0-6 scale | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 1.7 0-6 scale | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 1.7 0-6 scale | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 1.7 0-6 scale | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 1.7 0-6 scale | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 1.7 0-6 scale | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 1.7 0-6 scale | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 1.7 0-6 scale | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 1.37 0-6 scale | -19.6% |
| 2008 | 1.37 0-6 scale | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 1.37 0-6 scale | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 1.37 0-6 scale | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 1.37 0-6 scale | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 1.37 0-6 scale | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 1.37 0-6 scale | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 1.37 0-6 scale | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 1.37 0-6 scale | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 1.37 0-6 scale | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 1.37 0-6 scale | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 1.37 0-6 scale | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 1.37 0-6 scale | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 1.37 0-6 scale | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 1.37 0-6 scale | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 1.37 0-6 scale | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 1.37 0-6 scale | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 1.37 0-6 scale | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 1.37 0-6 scale | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1.7 0-6 scale | 1.7 0-6 scale | 1.7 0-6 scale | 5 |
| 1990s | 1.7 0-6 scale | 1.7 0-6 scale | 1.7 0-6 scale | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.6 0-6 scale | 1.37 0-6 scale | 1.7 0-6 scale | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.37 0-6 scale | 1.37 0-6 scale | 1.37 0-6 scale | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.37 0-6 scale | 1.37 0-6 scale | 1.37 0-6 scale | 6 |
Countries ranked near Japan
- 31 Brazil 1.53 0-6 scale compare
- 32 Switzerland 1.43 0-6 scale compare
- 33 Saudi Arabia 1.37 0-6 scale compare
- 35 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 1.35 0-6 scale compare
- 36 Ireland 1.31 0-6 scale compare
- 37 Colombia 1.21 0-6 scale compare
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 strictness of employment protection — individual dismissals in Japan?
- Strictness of employment protection — individual dismissals in Japan was 1.37 0-6 scale in 2025, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest strictness of employment protection — individual dismissals recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 1.7 0-6 scale in 1985.
- What is the lowest strictness of employment protection — individual dismissals recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.37 0-6 scale in 2007.
- How does Japan rank for strictness of employment protection — individual dismissals?
- Japan ranks 34th out of 41 countries with data for 2025.
- Is strictness of employment protection — individual dismissals rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Japan data come from?
- The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Strictness of employment protection — Individual dismissals (regular contracts). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
The OECD indicators of employment protection are synthetic indicators of the strictness of regulation on dismissals and the use of temporary contracts. For each year, indicators refer to regulation in force on the 1st of January. For more information and full methodology, see OECD Indicators of Employment Protection webpage Last data update: May 2022 OECD statistics contact: ELS.Contact@oecd.org