Japan’s unemployment rate held at 2.6% in December 2025, unchanged for a fourth consecutive month and in line with market expectations. The figure remained the highest since July 2024, as the number of unemployed grew by 50 thousand to 1.86 million. Meanwhile, employment fell by 50 thousand to 68.46 million, while the labor force dropped 50 thousand to 70.31 million. The number of people outside the labor force increased by 50 thousand to 39.27 million. On a non-seasonally adjusted basis, the labor force participation rate stood at 63.9%, down from 64.1% November but up from 63.4% a year earlier. Meanwhile, the jobs-to-applicants ratio edged up to 1.19 from a near three-year low in the prior two months, slightly above the expected 1.18. source: Ministry of Internal Affairs & Communications

Unemployment Rate in Japan remained unchanged at 2.60 percent in December. Unemployment Rate in Japan averaged 2.71 percent from 1953 until 2025, reaching an all time high of 5.50 percent in June of 2002 and a record low of 1.00 percent in November of 1968. This page 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. Japan Unemployment Rate - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on February of 2026.

Unemployment Rate in Japan remained unchanged at 2.60 percent in December. Unemployment Rate in Japan is expected to be 2.70 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the Japan Unemployment Rate is projected to trend around 2.60 percent in 2027, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2025-12-25 11:30 PM
Unemployment Rate
Nov 2.6% 2.6% 2.6% 2.6%
2026-01-29 11:30 PM
Unemployment Rate
Dec 2.6% 2.6% 2.6% 2.6%
2026-03-02 11:30 PM
Unemployment Rate
Jan 2.6%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Employment Rate 62.40 62.50 percent Dec 2025
Jobs/applications ratio 1.19 1.18 Dec 2025
Labor Force Participation Rate 63.90 64.10 percent Dec 2025
Unemployment Rate 2.60 2.60 percent Dec 2025
Youth Unemployment Rate 2.40 3.00 percent Dec 2025


Japan Unemployment Rate
In Japan, the unemployment rate measures the number of people actively looking for a job as a percentage of the labour force.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
2.60 2.60 5.50 1.00 1953 - 2025 percent Monthly
SA

News Stream
Japan Jobless Rate Stays at 2.6% for 5th Month
Japan’s unemployment rate held at 2.6% in December 2025, unchanged for a fourth consecutive month and in line with market expectations. The figure remained the highest since July 2024, as the number of unemployed grew by 50 thousand to a 17-month high of 1.86 million. Meanwhile, employment fell by 50 thousand to 68.46 million, while the labor force dropped 50 thousand to 70.31 million. The number of people outside the labor force increased by 50 thousand to 39.27 million. On a non-seasonally adjusted basis, the labor force participation rate stood at 63.9%, down from 64.1% November but up from 63.4% a year earlier. Meanwhile, the jobs-to-applicants ratio edged up to 1.19 from a near three-year low in the prior two months, slightly above the expected 1.18.
2026-01-29
Japan Jobless Rate Stays at 2.6% for 4th Month
Japan’s unemployment rate stood at 2.6% in November 2025, unchanged from the previous three months and in line with market estimates. It remained the highest reading since July 2024, as the number of unemployed declined by 40 thousand to 1.81 million. Meanwhile, employment rose by 500 thousand to another record high of 68.51 million, while the labor force edged up 20 thousand to 70.32 million. The number of people outside the labor force increased by 10 thousand to 39.32 million. On a non-seasonally adjusted basis, the labor force participation rate stood at 64.1%, inched lower from 64.2% October but up from 63.5% a year earlier. At the same time, the jobs-to-applicants ratio remained unchanged at 1.18, staying at its lowest level since January 2022 and aligning with consensus.
2025-12-25
Japan Jobless Rate Holds Steady at 2.6% for 3rd Month
Japan’s unemployment rate stood at 2.6% in October 2025, unchanged from the previous two months but slightly above market expectations of 2.5%. It remained the highest reading since July 2024, as the number of unemployed increased by 40 thousand to a near four-year high of 1.85 million. Meanwhile, employment rose by 120 thousand to a record high of 68.46 million, while the labor force expanded by 160 thousand to 70.30 million. The number of people outside the labor force decreased by 150 thousand to 39.31 million. On a non-seasonally adjusted basis, the labor force participation rate stood at 64.2%, flat from September but up from 63.5% a year earlier. At the same time, the jobs-to-applicants ratio fell to 1.18, the lowest level since January 2022, from 1.20 in September.
2025-11-27