Recent Statistical Survey Reports, December 2011

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Statistical Survey Reports

Survey on Labor Economic Trend (November 2011)

Tuesday, December 6, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

By the judgment of employment surplus or shortage DI as of November 1, 2011, regarding the trend of the sense of employment surplus or shortage, in the total of industries surveyed, regular employees accounted for 10 (7 in the previous survey) . And, that of part-time workers accounted for 15 (10 in the previous survey) and the DI shows shortage for 9 consecutive terms.

National Accounts (The 2nd Preliminary Estimates Jul.-Sep. 2011)

Friday, December 9, released by the Cabinet Officeopen new window

Real GDP (Gross Domestic Product) growth rate (Seasonally Adjusted) was 1.4% (5.6% on annual basis), a decrease of 0.1 points (0.4 points on annual basis from the 1st preliminary estimates.

Of real GDP growth rate, 0.8% was contributed by domestic demand and 0.6% by external demand.

Compensation of Employees (real) was -0.3%.

Quartely Estimates of GDP: Jul. ~Sep. 2011 (The 2nd Preliminary Estimates)
Growth rate of GDP from the previous Quarters(seasonally adjusted)
Contributions of Domestic Demand and External Demand to Changes in GDP

See the table above for chart data.

Monthly Labour Survey Special Survey

Friday, December 9, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

The average payment for one employee of contractual cash earnings (for business establishments with 1-4 regular employees) in July 2011 was 187,962 yen, an increase of 1.8 % from a year earlier.

That of special cash earnings was 191,014 yen, an increase of 3.4 % from a year earlier.

General Survey on Part-time Workers (2011)(*)

Wednesday, December 14, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

The ratio of non-regular employees as of June 1 2011 was 34.4% (30.9% in the previous survey 2006). Among them, the ratio of part-time employees was 27.0% (25.7% in the previous survey).

Regarding the reason for employment of part-time employees (M.A), "To keep personnel costs down (bring efficiency to labour costs)” was 48.6% (71.7% in the previous survey), “Because of simple work content” was 36.5% (36.5%), “To handle busy time periods during the day” was 35.4% (38.5%) and so on.

The ratio of establishments answered “To keep personnel costs down (bring efficiency to labour costs)” was decreased from the previous survey and that of “To rehire regular staffs that have reached retirement age” and “Due to desire to hire people with experience, know-how, or skills” was increased from the previous survey.

(*):excluding three quake-hit prefectures (Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima) by the Great East Japan Earthquake

TANKAN (Short-Term Economic Survey of Enterprises) (December)

Thursday, December 15, released by the Bank of Japan(PDF:183KB)open new window

The Diffusion Index (DI) (“Favorable”- “Unfavorable”) for business conditions in large enterprises of the manufacturing was -4%point (2 in the previous quarter and forecast -5 in the coming quarter), and the non-manufacturing DI was 4%point (1 in the previous quarter and forecast 0 in the coming quarter).

The Diffusion Index (DI) (“Excessive”- “Insufficient”) for employment conditions in large enterprises of all industries was 4 % point (4 in the previous quarter and forecast 4 in the coming quarter).

Business Sentiment(For Large Enterprise)

Survey on Situation of Preliminary Job Offers for New Senior High School Graduates (End of October, 2011)

Friday, December 16, released by the Ministry of Education,
Culture, Sports, Science and Technology

The ratio of final-year senior high school students with preliminary job offers at the end of October, 2011, was 58.6%, an increase of 1.5 points from the previous year.

By sex, the ratio for men was 62.6%, increased by 1.1 points from the previous year and that for women was52.9%, increased by 2.1 points from the previous year.

Monthly Labour Survey (Final Report in October)

Monday, December 19, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

Total amount of cash earnings (for business establishments with 5 or more employees) unchanged from a year earlier, and contractual cash earnings decreased by 0.2% from a year earlier.

Scheduled cash earnings decreased by 0.4%, non-scheduled cash earnings increased by 2.9%, and special cash earnings increased by 7.4% from a year earlier. Real wage (total) decreased by 0.4% from a year earlier.

Non-scheduled hours worked by manufacturing industry workers at business establishments with 5 or more employees increased by 0.9% from the previous month (seasonally adjusted).

Indexes of Business Conditions October 2011 (Revised Release)

Tuesday, December 20, released by the Cabinet Office

The Coincident Index of Composite Index (CI, revised figures, 2005=100) in October was 91.4, an increase of 1.3 points. And 3 months backward moving average increased for 0.20 points, and 7 months backward moving average increased for 0.73 points. So the Assessment of Coincident Index was “Halting to fall” (The same as the previous month).

The Leading Index was 92.0, a decrease of 0.3 points, and the Lagging Index was 82.7, a decrease of 3.0 points.

Report on Social Welfare Administration and Services in September

Thursday, December 22, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

The number of households of welfare recipients in September was 1,497,329 and the number of welfare recipients was 2,065,896.

Basic Survey on Labour Unions (2011)

Thursday, December 22, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

The number of labour union members as of June 30, 2011 was 9.961 million, decreased by 0.9%, 93 thousand from the previous year.

The number of labour union members of part-time workers was 776 thousand, increased by 6.8%, 50 thousand from the previous year. The ratio of part-time workers in labour union member rate was 7.8%, showing a record high.

(*):The estimated unionization rate was 18.4%. This results for whole Japan excludes three prefectures (Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima) struck by the Great East Japan Earthquake.

Monthly Survey on Service Industries (Preliminary Report in October)

Tuesday, December 27, released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (PDF:75KB)open new window

The monthly sales amount of service industry in October 2011 was 23.1 trillion yen, a decrease of 2.1 % from the same month the year before. The total number of persons employed in the industry was 25.52 million, a decrease of 2.5% from the same month the year before.

Consumer Price Index (November)

Wednesday, December 28, released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications

The consumer price index for Japan in November 2011 was 99.4(2010=100), down 0.5% over the year. Omitting Fresh food, the comprehensive index was 99.6, down 0.2% over the year.

The consumer price index for Ku-area of Tokyo in December 2011(preliminary) was 99.3(2010=100), down 0.4% over the year. Omitting Fresh food, the comprehensive index was 99.5, down 0.3% over the year.

Family Income and Expenditure Survey (November)

Wednesday, December 28, released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications

The average monthly income for a worker's household with 2 or more family members was decreased by 1.0% in real terms from the same month a year before.

With regard to the income contributing to increase - decrease rate, contribution of income earned by head of household accounted for -0.25 %, partner's income accounted for -0.11%, other household members' income accounted for -0.48% and so on.

The average monthly consumption expenditures for a worker's household with 2 or more family members was decreased by 4.1% in real terms from the same month a year before.

Labour Force Survey (November)

Wednesday, December 28, released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications

The unemployment rate (seasonally adjusted) was 4.5%, unchanged from the previous month. That for men was 4.8%, unchanged from the previous month and that for women was 4.1%, increased by 0.1 point from the previous month.

The number of unemployed persons (seasonally adjusted) was 2.96 million, increased by 40 thousand from the previous month.

The number of employees (seasonally adjusted) was 54.84 million, increased by 230 thousand from the previous month.

Report on Employment Service (November)

Wednesday, December 28, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

The ratio of active job openings to applicants (seasonally adjusted) was 0.69, increased by 0.02 point from the previous month.

Trend in Unemployment Rate and Ratio of Active Job
Openings to Applicants (seasonally adjusted)

Indices of Industrial Production (November)

Wednesday, December 28, released by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industryopen new window

The index of industrial production (seasonally adjusted) decreased by 2.6% from the previous month.

According to the Survey of Production Forecast in Manufacturing, Production is expected to increase in December and January. The Synthetic judgment is “Industrial Production appears to be flat”

Monthly Labour Survey (Preliminary Report in November)

Wednesday, December 28, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

Total amount of cash earnings (for business establishments with 5 or more employees) decreased by 1.0% from a year earlier, and contractual cash earnings increased by 0.3% from a year earlier.

Scheduled cash earnings increased by 0.3%, non-scheduled cash earnings increased by 1.3%, and special cash earnings decreased by 22.4% from a year earlier. Real wage (total) decreased by 1.0% from a year earlier.

Non-scheduled hours worked by manufacturing industry workers at business establishments with 5 or more employees decreased by 2.5% from the previous month (seasonally adjusted).

Other Reports

Monthly Economic Report (December)

Wednesday, December 21, released by the Cabinet Officeopen new window

The Japanese economy is still picking up slowly, while difficulties continue to prevail due to the Great East Japan Earthquake. (In the previous month, “The Japanese economy is still picking up although the pace decelerates, while difficulties continue to prevail due to the Great East Japan Earthquake.”)

  • Industrial production is still picking up slowly. Exports have been flat. (The same as the previous month)
  • Corporate profits have decreased. Business investment is leveling off while weak movements are seen recently. (The same as the previous month)
  • Firms' judgment on current business conditions shows a small improvement although that for large manufactures is deteriorating. Overall, firms are cautious about the immediate future. (In the previous month, "Firms' judgment on current business conditions is improving. However, small and medium-sized enterprises are cautious about the immediate future.)
  • The employment situation still remains severe partly due to the earthquake disaster, although it also exhibits signs of picking up. (The same as the previous month)
  • Private consumption is almost leveling off. (The same as the previous month)
  • Recent price developments indicate that the Japanese economy is in a mild deflationary phase. (The same as the previous month)

Monthly Economic Labour Report (December)

Thursday, December 22, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

The employment situation still remains severe partly due to the earthquake disaster, although it also exhibits signs of picking up. (The same as the previous month)

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