Recent Statistical Survey Reports, July 2008

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Statistical Survey Reports

Employment Status Survey 2007

Thursday, July 3, released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications

Regarding the usual employment status of the population 15 years old or more as of October 1, 2007, is 65,978,000 persons were “engaged in work”, while 44,324,000 persons were “not engaged in work”. The number of “engaged in work” increased by 968,000 persons (1.5%), and that of “not engaged in work” increased 159,000 persons (0.4%) respectively from the last survey of 2002.

As to the “engaged in work” by sex, male increased by 141,000 (0.4%) to 38,175,000, and female increased by 827,000 (3.1%) to 27,803,000. Compared with the last survey of 2002, showing a much more increase in female than in male.

Regarding the persons who got the first job after October 1982, the ratio of the persons having got the first job as the irregular worker was getting higher year by year. Though “from October 1982 to October 1987” the ratio was 13.5%, “from October 2002 to October 2007” recorded 43.8%.

Indexes of Business Conditions (Preliminary Report for May)

Friday, July 4, released by the Cabinet Office

The Coincident Index of CI (Preliminary figures, 2005=100) in May was 103.0 (an increase of 1.3 points), but 3 months backward moving average and 7 months backward moving average decreased for 3 consecutive months. So the Assessment of Coincident Index is “the assessment of the previous month retained”. (The assessment of Coincident Index in April 2008 was “Signaling a possible turning point”.) The Leading Index was 92.6, a decrease of 0.2 points, and the Lagging Index was 103.9, an increase of 0.2 points.

Survey on Collective Bargaining and Labour Dispute in 2007

Friday, July 4, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

As for the ratio of themes unions and employees discussed during last 3 years, “employment, personnel matters”, “wages” and “working hours” accounted for 81.2%, 78.3% and 76.3% respectively.

For last 3 years, the ratio of the unions “conducted collective bargaining” increased by 4.9 points to 69.5% from the last survey of 2002, 64.6%.

For last 3 years, the ratio of the unions “had an act of labour dispute” was 5.4% (the last survey 6.0%).

Special survey on “Work-life balance”

Thursday, July 24, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

Regarding the awareness of “work-life balance”, 60.1% of persons surveyed responded that they know neither the name nor the content of it, while 26.6% said that they heard the name before, but do not really know the content.

Asked ordering of priority, 29.9% cited “family life” and 26.3% expressed “both job and family life”.

Consumer Price Index (June)

Friday, July 25, released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications

The Consumer Price Index was 102.2, an increase of 2.0% from the previous year. Omitting Fresh food, the comprehensive index was 102.0, an increase of 1.9% from the previous year, both indexes increased for 9 consecutive months.

And in the ward –areas of Tokyo in July, the former accounted for 101.5, an increase of 1.6% from the previous year. Omitting Fresh food, the latter accounted for 101.4, an increase of 1.6% from the previous year.

Family Income and Expenditure Survey (June)

Tuesday, July 29, released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications

The average monthly income for a worker’s household with 2 or more family members decreased by 2.1% from the same month the year before. It decreased for 3 consecutive months.

Labour Force Survey (June)

Tuesday, July 29, released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications

Report on Employment Service (June)

Tuesday, July 29, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

The unemployment rate (seasonally adjusted) was 4.1%, increased by 0.1 points from the previous month. That for men was 4.2%, unchanged from the previous month, and that for women was 4.0%, increased by 0.3 points from the previous month.

The number of unemployed persons increased by 240 thousand from a year earlier to 2.65 million.

The number of employees (seasonally adjusted) increased by 110 thousand from the previous month to 55.28 million.

The ratio of active job openings to applicants (seasonally adjusted) was 0.91, decreased by 0.01 points from the previous month.

Trend in Unemployment Rate and Ratio of Active Job
Openings to Applicants

Indices of Industrial Production (June)

Wednesday, July 30, released by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry

The index of industrial production (seasonally adjusted) decreased by 2.0 % from the previous month.
According to the Survey of Production Forecast in Manufacturing, Production is expected to decrease in July and August. The Synthetic judgment is “Industrial Production has weakened.”

Monthly Labour Survey (Preliminary Report in June)

Thursday, July 31, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

Total amount of cash earnings (for business establishments with 5 or more employees) decreased by 0.6% from a year earlier and scheduled cash earnings increased by 0.1%. It increased for 8 consecutive months.

Non-scheduled hours worked in manufacturing (for business establishments with 5 or more employees, seasonally adjusted) decreased by 0.8% from the previous month.

Other Reports

Monthly Economic Report (July)

Monday, July 14, released by the Cabinet Office

While the economic recovery appears to be pausing, weak movements are seen recently.

• Exports and industrial production have been in a weak tone recently.
• Corporate profits are falling and business investment is almost flat.
• The employment improvement appears to be pausing while some severe aspects remain.
• Private consumption is almost flat.

White Paper on the Labour Economy 2008

Tuesday, July 22, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

In Japan, the economic recovery appears to be pausing in 2008. While the employment situation for graduates is recovering, the wage decreased continuously in small business establishments, since the 1990s. As the employment system and the wage system have changed significantly, the number of irregular workers increased and the performance-based pay system expanded. To cope with the prolonged severeness of the business environment, companies tended to cut the employment cost and as the result, the employee’s satisfaction has been declining in the long term.

The upgrading of the industrial structure based on the manpower allocation paused. In the high productivity industry, the manufacturing industry, etc. reduced the manpower, and in the service industry, the retailing industry, etc. increased the irregular workers. There was a growing trend in which the manpower tends to be moved to the low productivity industry.

  Paper cited issues to be addressed;

 Support for the employment normalization. To secure the employment opportunities for the people who want to work as the regular worker.

The realization of the appropriate employment management for employees so as to get higher motivation and the development of occupational skills.

The comprehensive effort for the realization of the advanced industrial structure.

Monthly Economic Labour Report (July)

Wednesday, July 23, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

In looking at the aspects of labor and economy, the employment improvement appears to be pausing while some severe aspects remain.