Japan’s unemployment rate was at 2.6% in February 2026, compared with January's 1-1/2-year high and market forecasts of 2.7%. The number of unemployed fell by 60 thousand to 1.85 million. Meantime, employment added 10 thousand to 68.27 million, while the labor force increased 40 thousand to 70.12 million. The number of people outside the labor force edged up 10 thousand to a five-month high of 39.46 million. On a non-seasonally adjusted basis, the labor force participation rate was at 63.5%, unchanged from January but up from 63.2% a year earlier. Meanwhile, the jobs-to-applicants ratio stood at 1.19, slightly above both January’s reading and forecasts of 1.18. source: Ministry of Internal Affairs & Communications

Unemployment Rate in Japan decreased to 2.60 percent in February from 2.70 percent in January of 2026. Unemployment Rate in Japan averaged 2.71 percent from 1953 until 2026, 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 April of 2026.

Unemployment Rate in Japan decreased to 2.60 percent in February from 2.70 percent in January of 2026. 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
2026-03-02 11:30 PM
Unemployment Rate
Jan 2.7% 2.6% 2.6% 2.6%
2026-03-30 11:30 PM
Unemployment Rate
Feb 2.6% 2.7% 2.7% 2.7%
2026-05-01 11:30 PM
Unemployment Rate
Mar 2.6% 2.70%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Employment Rate 61.90 61.90 percent Feb 2026
Jobs/applications ratio 1.19 1.18 Feb 2026
Labor Force Participation Rate 63.50 63.50 percent Feb 2026
Unemployment Rate 2.60 2.70 percent Feb 2026
Youth Unemployment Rate 3.80 4.30 percent Feb 2026


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 2.70 5.50 1.00 1953 - 2026 percent Monthly
SA

News Stream
Japan Jobless Rate Eases to 2.6% in February
Japan’s unemployment rate was at 2.6% in February 2026, compared with January's 1-1/2-year high and market forecasts of 2.7%. The number of unemployed fell by 60 thousand to 1.85 million. Meantime, employment added 10 thousand to 68.27 million, while the labor force increased 40 thousand to 70.12 million. The number of people outside the labor force edged up 10 thousand to a five-month high of 39.46 million. On a non-seasonally adjusted basis, the labor force participation rate was at 63.5%, unchanged from January but up from 63.2% a year earlier. Meanwhile, the jobs-to-applicants ratio stood at 1.19, slightly above both January’s reading and forecasts of 1.18.
2026-03-30
Japan Jobless Rate Highest in 1-1/2 Years
Japan’s unemployment rate was at 2.7% in January 2026, edging higher from figures in the prior five months and market forecasts of 2.6% and, marking the highest level since July 2024. The number of unemployed grew by 60 thousand to a 4-year high of 1.91 million. Meanwhile, employment fell by 290 thousand to 68.17 million, while the labor force dropped 210 thousand to a five-month low of 70.08 million. The number of people outside the labor force increased by 170 thousand to a four-month high of 39.45 million. On a non-seasonally adjusted basis, the labor force participation rate increased to 63.5%, down from 63.9% in December but up from 63.2% a year earlier. Meanwhile, the jobs-to-applicants ratio stood at 1.18, compared with December's reading and estimates of 1.19.
2026-03-02
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