Recent Statistical Survey Reports, September 2012

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Statistical Survey Reports

Survey on Labor Economic Trend (August 2012)

Thursday, September 6, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

By the judgment of employment surplus or shortage DI as of August 1, 2012, regarding the trend of the sense of employment surplus or shortage, in the total of industries surveyed, regular employees accounted for 12 (12 in the previous survey) and the DI shows shortage for 5 consecutive terms. And, that of part-time workers accounted for 16 (17 in the previous survey) and the DI shows shortage for 12 consecutive terms.

National Accounts (The 2nd Preliminary Estimates Apr.-Jun. 2012)

Monday, September 10, released by the Cabinet Office

Real GDP (Gross Domestic Product) growth rate (Seasonally Adjusted) was 0.2% (0.7% on annual basis), a decrease of 0.1 points (0.7points on annual basis from the 1st preliminary estimates.

Of real GDP growth rate, 0.2% was contributed by domestic demand and -0.1% by external demand.

Quartely Estimates of GDP: Apr. ~Jun. 2012 (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

Survey on Public Assistance Recipients (April and May)

Wednesday, September 12, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

The number of households of welfare recipients in April was 1,529,524 and the number of welfare recipients was 2,102,081. The number of households of welfare recipients in May was 1,538,096 and the number of welfare recipients was 2,110,816.

Survey on Preliminary Offer of Hiring New Graduates in FY 2012 (Senior and Junior High)

Wednesday, September 12, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

The number of job openings for final-grade senior high school students was about 146,000 as of July 31, 2012, increased by 14.5% from the previous year.

The number of applications for final- grade senior high school students was about 193,000, increased by 3.4% from the previous year.

The ratio of job openings to applicants for final-grade senior high school students was 0.75, 0.07 points higher than the previous year.

The ratio of job openings to applicants for final-grade junior high school students was 0.27, 0.01 points higher than the previous year.

Survey on Employment Trends (2011)

Wednesday, September 12, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

The hiring rate (the ratio of hired employees to regular employees at the beginning of the new year) was 14.2%, decreased by 0.1 points from the previous year, and the separation rate (the ratio of separated employees to regular employees at the beginning of the new year) was 14.4%, decreased by 0.1 points from the previous year.

Regarding the separation rate by reasons of job separation, “ Personal reasons ” was 9.8% (decreased by 0.1 points from the previous year) and “ Business or employer's reason ” was 1.2% (decreased by 0.2 points from the previous year).

Looking at the wage of hired employees who changed occupations, those who admit 28.5% of them cited that the wage was “ increased from the previous occupation ” (decreased by 0.9 points from the previous year), and 32.0% cited “ decreased ” (decreased by 0.3 points from the previous year).

Monthly Labour Survey (Final Report in July)

Monday, September 18, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

Total amount of cash earnings (for business establishments with 5 or more employees) decreased by 1.6% from a year earlier, and contractual cash earnings decreased by 0.1% from a year earlier.

Scheduled cash earnings decreased by 0.2%, non-scheduled cash earnings increased by 1.1%, and special cash earnings decreased by 5.1% from a year earlier. Real wage (total) decreased by 1.1% from a year earlier.

Non-scheduled hours worked by manufacturing industry workers at business establishments with 5 or more employees decreased by 4.4% from the previous month (seasonally adjusted).

Indexes of Business Conditions July 2012 (Revised Release)

Wednesday, September 19, released by the Cabinet Office

The Coincident Index of Composite Index (CI, revised figures, 2005=100) in July was 93.8, a decrease of 1.1 points. And 3 months backward moving average decreased for 1.17 points, and 7 months backward moving average decreased for 0.13 points. So the Assessment of Coincident Index was “Weakening” (The same as the previous month).

The Leading Index was 93.0, a decrease of 1.1 points, and the Lagging Index was 86.7, a decrease of 0.1 points.

Survey on Public Assistance Recipients (June)

Wednesday, September 26, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

The number of households of welfare recipients in June was 1,542,784 and the number of welfare recipients was 2,115,477.

Monthly Survey on Service Industries (Preliminary Report in July)

Thursday, September 27, released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (PDF:76KB)

The monthly sales amount of service industry in July 2012 was 23.2trillion yen, an increase of 1.3 % from the same month the year before. The total number of persons working at the location of establishment in the industry was 25.20 million, a decrease of 1.3% from the same month the year before.

Consumer Price Index (August)

Friday, September 28, released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications

The consumer price index for Japan in August 2012 was 99.4(2010=100), down 0.4% over the year. Omitting Fresh food, the comprehensive index was 99.6, down 0.3% over the year.

The consumer price index for Ku-area of Tokyo in September 2012(preliminary) was 98.9(2010=100), down 0.7% over the year. Omitting Fresh food, the comprehensive index was 99.3, down 0.4% over the year.

Indices of Industrial Production (August)

Friday, September 28, released by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry

The index of industrial production (seasonally adjusted) decreased by 1.3% from the previous month.

According to the Survey of Production Forecast in Manufacturing, Production is expected to decrease in September and to increase in October. The Synthetic judgment is “Industrial Production appears to be weakened.” (In the previous month, “Industrial Production appears to be flat”)

Family Income and Expenditure Survey (August)

Friday, September 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 increased by 1.8% 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 -0.98 %, partner's income accounted for 1.05%, other household members' income accounted for -0.09% and so on.

The average monthly consumption expenditures for a worker's household with 2 or more family members was increased by 0.9% in real terms from the same month a year before.

Labour Force Survey (August)

Friday, September 28, released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications

The unemployment rate (seasonally adjusted) was 4.2%, decreased by 0.1 point from the previous month.

That for men was 4.5%, unchanged from the previous month and that for women was 3.7%, decreased by 0.4 point from the previous month.

The number of unemployed persons (seasonally adjusted) was 2.72 million, decreased by 100 thousand from the previous month.

The number of employees (seasonally adjusted) was 55.13 million, increased by 10 thousand from the previous month.

Report on Employment Service (August)

Friday, September 28, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

The ratio of active job openings to applicants (seasonally adjusted) was 0.83, unchanged from the previous month.

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

Conditions Relating to Result of Summer Bonus Negotiation (major private enterprises) (2012)

Friday, September 28, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

The amount of agreed summer bonus was 726,345 yen, decreased by 20,842 yen (2.79%) from a year earlier.

(*)The survey targeted 391 major private enterprises with the capital one billion yen or more, with 1,000 or more employees and the labour union, that could be grasped their results of negotiations.

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

Monday, October 1, released by the Bank of Japan(PDF:185KB)

The Diffusion Index (DI) (“Favorable”- “Unfavorable”) for business conditions in large enterprises of the manufacturing was -3%point (-1 in the previous quarter and forecast -3 in the coming quarter), and the non-manufacturing DI was 8%point (8 in the previous quarter and forecast 5 in the coming quarter).

The Diffusion Index (DI) (“Excessive”- “Insufficient”) for employment conditions in large enterprises of all industries was 2 % point (3 in the previous quarter and forecast 3 in the coming quarter).

Business Sentiment(For Large Enterprise)

Monthly Labour Survey (Preliminary Report in August)

Tuesday, October 2, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

Total amount of cash earnings (for business establishments with 5 or more employees) increased by 0.2% from a year earlier and contractual cash earnings increased by 0.3% from a year earlier.

Scheduled cash earnings increased by 0.1%, non-scheduled cash earnings increased by 2.7%, and special cash earnings increased by 1.1% from a year earlier. Real wage (total) increased by 0.7% from a year earlier.

Non-scheduled hours worked by manufacturing industry workers at business establishments with 5 or more employees decreased by 4.7% from the previous month (seasonally adjusted).

Other Reports

White Paper on the Labour Economy 2012

Friday, September 14, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

Monthly Economic Report (September)

Friday, September 14, released by the Cabinet Office

The employment situation shows signs of improvement, although some severe aspects still remain. (In the previous month, “The employment situation is picking up, although it still remains severe partly due to the earthquake disaster.”)

• Both industrial production and exports are in a weak tone. (In the previous month, “Industrial production levels off recently. Exports are in a weak tone. ”)
• Corporate profits which have been picking up show signs of leveling off recently. Business investment
  as a whole is picking up slowly while some weak movements are also seen recently. (In the previous month,“Corporate profits are picking up. Business investment is picking up slowly.”)
• Firms' judgment on current business conditions shows a small improvement as a whole, mainly driven by large firms. (The same as the previous month)
• The employment situation shows signs of improvement, although some severe aspects still remain.(The same as the previous month)
• Private consumption is almost flat while some weak movements are seen lately. (In the previous month,“Private consumption is on the increase at a moderate pace. ”)
• Recent price developments indicate that the Japanese economy is in a mild deflationary phase. (The same as the previous month)

Monthly Economic Labour Report (September)

Tuesday, September 18, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

The employment situation shows signs of improvement, although some severe aspects still remain. (The same as the previous month)