Japan’s Job Availability Ratio Rises for 2nd Straight Year
![](https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/20230412-OYT1I50121-1.jpg)
The cityscape of Tokyo
16:53 JST, January 30, 2024
TOKYO (Jiji Press)—The average ratio of effective job openings to seekers in Japan rose for the second straight year in 2023 as demand for labor grew following the removal of COVID-19 restrictions and amid serious workforce shortages, government data showed Tuesday.
The ratio, which represents the number of jobs available to each applicant at public job placement offices across the country, rose 0.03 points from the previous year to 1.31, the labor ministry said.
Separately, the internal affairs ministry said that the country’s average jobless rate was 2.6% in 2023, unchanged from the previous year.
The monthly number of effective job openings grew 0.9% on average. Companies in the hotel and restaurant industries hired more workers, while some businesses, struggling with soaring prices, curbed hiring.
The monthly number of effective job seekers declined 1.4% as the number of people looking for new jobs while working fell amid expectations for better pay.
The number of jobless people who left their jobs for reasons on the employer’s side fell, while that of those quitting their jobs for personal reasons rose.
In December alone, the seasonally adjusted effective job openings-to-seekers ratio fell 0.01 points from the previous month to 1.27. The jobless rate fell 0.1 percentage points to 2.4% after seasonal adjustment.
"Business" POPULAR ARTICLE
-
Aviation Fuel Shortage Causes Problems at Regional Airports; Growing Demand, Lack of Workers to Transport
-
Prices of over 10,000 Food and Beverage Items to Rise This Year; Figure is down from over 30,000 Last Year
-
Sony Group to End Production of Blu-ray Discs; Market Has Shrunk Due To Growth Of Hard Disk Drives, Streaming
-
AI-Equipped Energy Efficient Air Conditioners Grow In Popularity; Some Can Guess Users’ Moods, Automatically Adjust Temperature
-
Toyota to Introduce 4-Day Workweek for Some Employees; Company Hopes More Flexible Schedules Will Boost Worker Motivation
JN ACCESS RANKING