Recent Statistical Survey Reports, November 2009

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Statistical Survey Reports

Survey on Situation of Preliminary Job Offers for New Graduate (Senior and Junior High School) (End of September, 2009)

Wednesday, November 4, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

The ratio of final-year senior high school students with preliminary job offers was 37.6%, a decrease of 13.4 points from the previous year.

The ratio of job openings to applicants for final-year senior high school students was 0.89, 0.63 points lower than the previous year.

The ratio of job openings to applicants for final-year junior high school students was 0.28, 0.27 points lower than the previous year.

General Survey on Working Conditions 2009

Thursday, November 5, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

The average number of annual paid holidays (excluding carried-over days) given by business establishments per employee in 2008 (or in fiscal year 2007) was 18.0 days (17.6 days in the previous year). Of which the average acquired day was 8.5 days (8.2 days in the previous year) and the acquisition ratio accounted for 47.4 % (46.7% in the previous year).

The ratio of enterprises with retirement age system as of January 1, 2009 was 91.8% (94.4% in the previous year). Asked about type of the system, “across the board retirement age” was 98.5% (98.4% in the previous year) and “differs by type of job” was 1.1% (1.1% in the previous year).

Looking at the retirement age of the enterprises which has an across the board retirement system, as of January 1, 16.0% (13.5% in the previous year) of them defined “aged 63 and over” and 13.5% (10.9% in the previous year) answered “aged 65 and over”.

Among the enterprises with across the board retirement age system, those which adopt one of two programs (i.e., employment extended and re-hiring) or have both of the programs accounted for 90.1% (90.0% in the previous year).

Looking at the determining factors of basic wages for the managers by type of jobs, as of January 1, 2009, 77.1% (*77.9% 72.8% in the previous survey in 2001) of surveyed enterprises responded “contents of work such as duties/occupations”, followed by 68.5% (*69.9% 79.7% in the previous survey in 2001) “capability”, 57.8% (*55.9% 73.9% in the previous survey in 2001) “academic background, age, length of service” and 45.4% (*46.9% 64.2% in the previous survey in 2001) “achievement result”.

Meanwhile for employees other than managers, 71.8% (*72.7% 70.6% in the previous survey in 2001) responded “contents of work such as duties/occupations”, followed by 67.5% (*69.3% 77.3% in the previous survey in 2001) “capability”, 65.5% (*65.4% 80.6% in the previous survey in 2001)“academic background, age, length of service” and 44.4% (*46.6% 62.3% in the previous survey in 2001) “achievement result”

(The respondents to this survey are “private companies with 30 or more regular employees”. But before the survey in 2007, the respondents were “private companies with 30 or more regular employees in their head offices”. (*) indicates the numeric number of the survey results in 2009 recalculated on “private companies with 30 or more regular employees in their head offices”.)

Indexes of Business Conditions (Preliminary Report for September)

Friday, November 6, released by the Cabinet Office

The Coincident Index of Composite Index (CI, preliminary figures, 2005=100) in September was 92.5, an increase of 1.3 points, 3 months backward moving average increased for 5 consecutive months, an increase of 1.30 points, and 7 months backward moving average increased for 2 consecutive months, an increase of 1.04 points. So the Assessment of Coincident Index was "Signaling a possible turning point". The Leading Index was 86.4, an increase of 3.2 points, and the Lagging Index was 84.5, an increase of 0.3 points.

The Relative Poverty Rate of Active Household with Children

Friday, November 13, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

The relative poverty rate of active household (household head was 18 - 64 years old) with children (*) based on Comprehensive Survey of Living Conditions was 12.2% in the survey in 2007 (12.5% in the previous survey in 2004).

Among them, the relative poverty rate of the household with one adult (**) was 54.3% (58.7% in the previous survey in 2004) and that with two or more adults (***) was 10.2% (10.5% in the previous survey in 2004).

(*)The relative poverty rate is defined as the share of household member with equivalent disposable income (that is adjusted amount of income obtained by dividing household disposable income by the square root of all household members) is under the poverty line (50% of the median).

(**)Among active households with children, the ratio of household members who belong to households with one adult and children being 17 years old or less and who doesn't come up to the poverty line.

(***)Among active households with children, the ratio of household members who belong to households with two or more adults and children being 17 years old or less and who doesn't come up to the poverty line.

Survey on the Employment Situation of Persons with Disabilities (FY2008)

Friday, November 13, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

Business establishment survey

Looking at employment situation of persons with disabilities by weekly scheduled working hours, concerning persons with physical disabilities, the ratio that responded “full-time” accounted for 82.8% and “short-time” accounted for 14.7%. Regarding persons with intellectual disability, “full-time” was 79.1% and “short-time” was 13.2%. About persons with mental disabilities, “full-time” was 73.1 and “short-time” was 24.8%.

(*)“full-time” : 30 hours or more (weekly scheduled working hours), “short-time” : 20 - 30 hours (weekly scheduled working hours). Responses include “less than 20 hours” and “N.A.”

Concerning the ratio of disabled persons who work as a regular employee, it was 64.4% for those with physical disabilities, 37.3% for those with intellectual disability and 46.7% for those with mental disabilities.

As for average monthly wage, it was 254,000yen about persons with physical disabilities, 118,000yen about persons with intellectual disability and 129,000yen about persons with mental disabilities.

Personal survey

Regarding issues at their workplace that seems necessary to be improved, to be developed and to be established, 40.4% of persons with physical disabilities answered “consideration of working conditions and working time”, while 30.8% of persons with mental disabilities demanded “to make it easier to take a holiday when they feel bad” (multiple answer). And, 56.7% of persons with intellectual disability answered “wish to continue working as they currently work”.

National Accounts (The 1st Preliminary Estimates Jul.-Sep. 2009)

Monday, November 16, released by the Cabinet Office

Real GDP (Gross Domestic Product) growth rate (Seasonally Adjusted) was 1.2% (4.8% on annual basis).

Of real GDP growth rate, 0.8% was contributed by domestic demand and 0.4% by external demand.

Quartely Estimates of GDP: Jul. ~Sep. 2009 (The 1st Preliminary Estimates)
Growth rate of GDP from the previous Quarters(seasonally adjusted)
Contributions of Domestic Demand and External Demand to Changes in GDP

Labor Force Survey: Detailed Tabulation (Jul.-Sep. 2009)

Tuesday, November 17, released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications

Of the total 51.12 million employees, excluding board members, the number of non-regular staff of the employees was 17.43 million, a decrease of 360 thousand from the previous year, decreased for 3 consecutive terms. The number of the regular staff was 33.70 million, a decrease of 150 thousand from the previous year, decreased for 2 consecutive terms.

Of the total 3.61 million unemployed persons, the number of persons who had been unemployment for less than 3 months was 1.19 million, an increase of 200 thousands from the previous year. And the number of persons who had been unemployment for 3 months or more was 2.38 million, an increase of 750 thousands from the previous year.

Basic Survey on Wage Structure (Starting Salary) (2009)

Wednesday, November 19, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

The amount of starting salary for college-graduates was 198,800 yen, increased by 0.1% from the previous year and that for graduates of senior high schools was 157,800 yen, increased by 0.1% from the previous year.

By sex, the amount of starting salary for college-graduates for men was 201,400 yen, unchanged from the previous year and that for graduates of senior high schools was 160,800 yen, increased by 0.5% from the previous year. For women, the former was 194,900 yen, increased by 0.2% from the previous year and the latter was 153,000 yen, decreased by 0.8% from the previous year.

Survey on Situation of Preliminary Job Offers for New Graduate in Mar.2010 (University, etc.) (October 1, 2009)

Thursday, November 19, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

The ratio of final-year university students who got an official job offer to applicants was 62.5%, decreased by 7.4 points from the same period a year earlier.

That of final-year junior college students (female only) was 29.0%, decreased by 10.4 points from the same period a year earlier.

That of final-year technology college students (male only) was 94.7%, decreased by 0.1 points from the same period a year earlier.

That of final-year vocational school students was 43.4%, decreased by 2.8 points from the same period a year earlier.

Conditions Relating to Result of Summer Bonus Negotiation (major private enterprises) (2009)

Friday, November 20, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

The amount of agreed summer bonus was 710,844 yen, decreased by 14.33% from a year earlier.

(*)The survey targeted 353 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.

Report on Employment Situations of Persons with Disabilities (Jun 1, 2009)

Friday, November 20, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

The number of persons with disabilities employed by private enterprises (with 56 employees or more; the statutory employment rate is 1.8%) was 332,811.5 (increased by 2.2 % from a year earlier), and the real employment rate was 1.63% (increased by 0.04 points from a year earlier). The ratio of enterprises that achieved the statutory employment rate was 45.5% (increased 0.6 points from a year earlier).

(*)The ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare summarize the result of reports sent by employers who are obliged to employ one or more persons with physical disabilities or intellectual disability.

(**)The number of persons with disabilities was a total of the number of persons with physical disabilities, with intellectual disability and with mental disabilities. Severely physically handicapped and heavily intellectually handicapped persons (excluding short time workers) were counted double from a legal standpoint. On the other hand, persons with mental disabilities who worked as short time workers were counted half from a legal standpoint.

Consumer Price Index (October)

Friday, November 27, released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications

The Consumer Price Index was 100.0, a decrease of 2.5% from the same month the year before, decreased for 9 consecutive months. Omitting Fresh food, the comprehensive index was 100.1, a decrease of 2.2% from the same month the year before, decreased for 8 consecutive months.

And in the ward -areas of Tokyo in November, the former accounted for 99.2, a decrease of 2.2% from the same month the year before. The latter accounted for 99.5, a decrease of 1.9% from the same month the year before.

Family Income and Expenditure Survey (October)

Friday, November 27, 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 1.8% 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 0.43 %, partner's income accounted for 0.19%, other household members' income accounted for -0.46 and non-current income accounted for 0.48%.

Labour Force Survey (October)

Friday, November 27, released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications

Report on Employment Service(October)

Friday, November 27, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

The unemployment rate (seasonally adjusted) was 5.1%, decreased by 0.2 points from the previous month. That for men was 5.3%, decreased by 0.3 points from the previous month, and that for women was 4.8%, decreased by 0.1 points from the previous month.

The number of unemployed persons increased by 890 thousand from a year earlier to 3.44 million.

The number of employees (seasonally adjusted) decreased by 120 thousand from the previous month to 54.54 million.

The ratio of active job openings to applicants (seasonally adjusted) was 0.44, increased by 0.01points from the previous month.

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

Indices of Industrial Production (October)

Monday, November 30, released by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry

The index of industrial production (seasonally adjusted) increased by 0.5% from the previous month.

According to the Survey of Production Forecast in Manufacturing, Production is expected to increase in November and December. The Synthetic judgment is “Industrial Production continues to show an upward movement.”

Monthly Labour Survey (Preliminary Report in October)

Monday, November 30, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

Total amount of cash earnings (for business establishments with 5 or more employees) decreased by 1.7% from a year earlier, and contractual cash earnings decreased by 1.7% from a year earlier.

Scheduled cash earnings decreased by 1.0%, non-scheduled cash earnings decreased by 9.7%, and special cash earnings increased by 3.0% from a year earlier. Real wage (total) increased by 1.3% from a year earlier.

Non-scheduled hours worked by manufacturing industry workers at business establishments with 5 or more employees increased by 1.9% from the previous month (seasonally adjusted).

Other Reports

Monthly Economic Report (November)

Friday, November 20, released by the Cabinet Office

Although the economy has been picking up, it is short of autonomous factors and remains in a difficult situation such as a high unemployment rate. (The same as the previous month)

• Exports are increasing, mainly to Asia. Industrial production is picking up. (The same as the previous month)
• Corporate profits are decreasing substantially, but the downward pace has become moderate. Business investment is starting to level off. (In the previous month, “decreasing”)
• Although firms' judgment on current business conditions remains in a difficult situation, it continues to show movements of picking up as a whole. However, the pace of pickup for small and medium-sized enterprises is slow. (The same as the previous month)
• The employment situation remains severe. (In the previous month, “remaining on the worsening trend, is extremely severe.”)
• Private consumption continues to show movements of picking up. (The same as the previous month)
• Recent price developments show that the Japanese economy is in a mild deflationary phase. (An item newly set)

Monthly Economic Labour Report (November)

Tuesday, November 24, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

In looking at the aspects of labor and economy, the employment situation, remains severe. (In the previous month, “The employment situation, remaining on the worsening trend, is extremely severe.”)