Unemployment
Japan's Unemployment Statistic - September 2010
Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) released figures for the so-called “absolute unemployment rate” for September on October 29. The latest unemployment rate is 5 percent, 0.1 percent point lower than August. The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) statistics for the effective ratio of job-offers-to-job-seekers figure for September came in at 0.55 times, making it the fifth consecutive upward trend.
Unlike in the U.S. and Europe, Japan's definition of the “unemployment rate” only includes people who do not have a job and continue to look for new work. Former job seekers -- those who have given up on job searching -- are not counted with calculating the labor force and thus are not counted in figuring the unemployment rate. As a result, the Japanese unemployed figures slightly understate the situation.
Japan Unemployment Data for September 2010
Japan's Unemployment Statistic - July 2010
July 2010 unemployment figures for Japan, seasonally adjusted, were released on August 30th by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communication (MIC). So-called "absolute employment" fell 0.1 percentage point to 5.2%, thus marking the third subsequent increase in unemployment since February 2010. The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) statistics for effective ratio of job-offers-to-job-seekers figure for July was 0.53 times, making the third consecutive upward trend.
It is noteworthy that the Japanese way of consolidating unemployment figures differs from the way the U.S. or European countries calculate it. As a result, a portion of those who would be counted as unemployed in the West fall into the employed category in Japan, making the Japanese unemployed figures slightly understate the situation.
Japan Unemployment Data for July 2010
Source: JMR charting of raw data from Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communication (MIC)
(click picture to enlarge)
Japan's Unemployment Statistic - May 2010
May 2010 unemployment figures for Japan, seasonally adjusted, were released on June 29 by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communication (MIC). So-called "absolute employment" rose 0.1 percentage point to 5.2%, thus marking the third subsequent increase in unemployment since February 2010. The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) statistics for effective ratio of job-offers-to-job-seekers figure for May was 0.5 times, a slightly upward trend compared to last month.
It is noteworthy that the Japanese way of consolidating unemployment figures differs from the way the U.S. or European countries calculate it. As a result, a portion of those who would be counted as unemployed in the West fall into the employed category in Japan, making the Japanese unemployed figures slightly understate the situation.
Japan Unemployment Data for May 2010
Source: JMR charting of raw data from Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communication (MIC)
(click picture to enlarge)
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Japan's Unemployment Statistic - March 2010
March 2010 unemployment figures for Japan, seasonally adjusted, were released on April 30 by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communication (MIC). So-called "absolute employment" rose1 percentage point compared to February to 5%. The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) statistics for effective ratio of job-offers-to-job-seekers figure for February was 0.49 times. This was the third month in a row that the ratio continued rising.
It is noteworthy that the Japanese way of consolidating unemployment figures differs from the way the U.S. or European countries calculate it. As a result, a portion of those who would be counted as unemployed in the West fall into the employed category in Japan, making the Japanese unemployed figures slightly understate the situation.
Japan Unemployment Data for March 2010
Source: JMR charting of raw data from Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communication (MIC)
(click picture to enlarge)
