Wages in Japan up for 1st time in 3 years in 2021
17:00 JST, February 8, 2022
TOKYO (Jiji Press) — Nominal wages in Japan in 2021 rose 0.3% from the previous year, marking the first increase in three years, the labor ministry said Tuesday.
The 2021 average of monthly wages stood at ¥319,528, the ministry said in a preliminary report.
Wages picked up thanks to growth in overtime after falling at their fastest pace in 11 years last year due to the spread of the novel coronavirus. But wages did not reach the 2019 level of ¥322,552 before the pandemic.
Price-adjusted real wages were flat from 2020.
Last year, regular pay rose 0.3%, and nonregular pay, including overtime, grew 3.8%.
In 2020, overtime plunged as many companies were forced to curb their operations in the first year of the coronavirus crisis.
The average of monthly work hours came to 136.1 hours last year, up for the first time in nine years.
"Business" POPULAR ARTICLE
-
Vegetable Prices Continue Surging in Japan
-
Monthly Number of Visitors to Japan Hits Record High in Jan.
-
High Costs a Headwind for Offshore Wind Projects; Construction Hampered by Expense of Imported Parts
-
Japanese Banks Raising Savings Account Interest Rates; Financial Institutions Seek New Ways to Lure Clients
-
Japan’s Trade with Russia Continues to Decline Amid Sanctions; U.S.-produced LNG Expected to Reduce Reliance
JN ACCESS RANKING