Average cash earnings in Japan increased by 3.4% year-on-year in June 2026, accelerating slightly from an upwardly revised 3.3% rise in May and matching market forecasts. It also marked the 54th consecutive month of nominal wage growth, with annual wage gains remaining above 3% for a fifth straight month. Earnings rose across most sectors, including manufacturing (2.7%), utilities (7.3%), information and communications (4.9%), transport and postal services (0.2%), wholesale and retail trade (-0.4%), finance and insurance (11.6%), the food industry (0.9%), and education (5.4%). By contrast, earnings declined in construction (-1.2%), mining (-9.7%), and real estate (-4.7%). Base pay grew 3.4%, following a 3% in May. Inflation-adjusted real wages increased 1.6% year-on-year in June, marking a sixth consecutive month of gains, matching May's upwardly revised figure, and supporting the case for further rate hikes by the central bank. source: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan

Wages in Japan increased 3.40 percent in June of 2026 over the same month in the previous year. Wage Growth in Japan averaged 2.99 percent from 1972 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 35.02 percent in July of 1974 and a record low of -7.10 percent in June of 2009. This page provides - Japan Wage Growth- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news. Japan Average Cash Earnings YoY - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on August of 2026.

Wages in Japan increased 3.40 percent in June of 2026 over the same month in the previous year. Wage Growth in Japan is expected to be 3.00 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the Japan Average Cash Earnings YoY is projected to trend around 2.70 percent in 2027 and 3.50 percent in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-07-06 11:30 PM
Average Cash Earnings YoY
May 3.2% 3.6% 3.4% 3.6%
2026-08-04 11:30 PM
Average Cash Earnings YoY
Jun 3.4% 3.3% 3.4% 3.8%
2026-09-07 11:30 PM
Average Cash Earnings YoY
Jul 3.4%



Components Last Previous Unit Reference
Overtime Pay YoY 2.80 2.80 percent Jun 2026
Real Earnings Including Bonuses 1.60 1.60 Percent Jun 2026

Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Full Time Employment 23601.00 23634.00 Thousand Jun 2026
Job Vacancies 794.00 786.00 Thousand Jun 2026
Jobs/applications ratio 1.18 1.17 Jun 2026
Minimum Wages 1121.00 1054.00 JPY/Hour Oct 2025
Part Time Employment 8017.00 7987.00 Thousand Jun 2026
Retirement Age Men 65.00 65.00 Years Dec 2026
Retirement Age Women 65.00 65.00 Years Dec 2026
Average Cash Earnings YoY 3.40 3.30 percent Jun 2026
Wages 646206.00 349533.00 JPY/Month Jun 2026
Wages in Manufacturing 335831.00 332509.00 JPY/Month Jun 2026


Japan Average Cash Earnings YoY
In Japan, wage growth refers to changes in average cash earnings, including contractual and special cash earnings, in companies with five or more employees.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
3.40 3.30 35.02 -7.10 1972 - 2026 percent Monthly
NSA

News Stream
Japan Nominal Wage Growth Tops 3% for 5th Month
Average cash earnings in Japan increased by 3.4% year-on-year in June 2026, accelerating slightly from an upwardly revised 3.3% rise in May and matching market forecasts. It also marked the 54th consecutive month of nominal wage growth, with annual wage gains remaining above 3% for a fifth straight month. Earnings rose across most sectors, including manufacturing (2.7%), utilities (7.3%), information and communications (4.9%), transport and postal services (0.2%), wholesale and retail trade (-0.4%), finance and insurance (11.6%), the food industry (0.9%), and education (5.4%). By contrast, earnings declined in construction (-1.2%), mining (-9.7%), and real estate (-4.7%). Base pay grew 3.4%, following a 3% in May. Inflation-adjusted real wages increased 1.6% year-on-year in June, marking a sixth consecutive month of gains, matching May's upwardly revised figure, and supporting the case for further rate hikes by the central bank.
2026-08-04
Japan Nominal Wage Growth Holds Above 3%
Average cash earnings in Japan increased by 3.2% yoy in May 2026, slowing from an upwardly revised 3.6% rise in April and coming in below market forecasts of 3.4%. Still, it marked the 53rd consecutive month of nominal wage growth and remained above 3% for a fourth month, the longest such streak since 1992. Earnings rose across all sectors, including construction (5.2%), manufacturing (3.8%), mining (6.3%), utilities (2.1%), information and communications (2.4%), transport and postal services (3.4%), wholesale and retail trade (4.7%), finance and insurance (7.1%), real estate (3.3%), the food industry (1.2%), and education (0.8%). Base pay grew 3%, following a revised 3.3% in April. Inflation-adjusted real wages climbed 1.4% yoy in May, marking a fifth straight month of increases and easing from an upwardly revised 2.0% rise in April, the longest stretch of gains in four years. Last month, the BoJ said steady wage and price increases are a prerequisite for another rate hike.
2026-07-06
Japan Nominal Wage Growth Hits 16-Month High
Average cash earnings in Japan grew by 3.5% yoy in April 2026, accelerating from an upwardly revised 3.1% rise in the previous month and surpassing market forecasts of 3.2%. It was the 52nd straight month of growth in nominal wages and the fastest pace since December 2024. Earnings rose across all sectors, including construction (4.3%), manufacturing (4.5%), mining & quarrying (1.1%), utilities (4.5%), information and communications (5.6%), transport and postal services (7.2%), wholesale and retail trade (2.8%), finance and insurance (11.2%), real estate (1.2%), the food industry (1.8%), and education (2.4%). Base pay increased 3.4%, unchanged from a revised figure in March. Meanwhile, inflation-adjusted real wages rose 1.9% yoy in April, marking a fourth straight month of increase and accelerating from an upwardly revised 1.4% gain in the previous month. This was the longest stretch of gains in four years and fueled speculation that the BoJ may raise interest rates this month.
2026-06-04