Photo: JurriaanH · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 03 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Japan: Work & Labour
Can people find work, and on what terms?
Japan is placed 2nd of 182 countries on work & labour in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Employment-to-Population Ratio 61.89 (2025); Labour Income Share 54.41 (2025).
Share
Work & Labour
2nd
of 182 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Japan on work & labour — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 4
Employment-to-Population Ratio
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
61.89
Employed share of the population aged 15+ (%)
Higher is better
Japan: 61.89. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 21.21 (São Tomé and Príncipe) to 86.9 (Qatar); the world median is 57.72.
- World median
- 57.72
- Best in Eastern Asia
- 79.24 North Korea
Key 3 of 4
Unemployment Rate
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
2.451
Unemployment (% of labour force)
Lower is better
Japan: 2.451. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 0.13 (Qatar) to 34.2 (Eswatini); the world median is 5.084.
- World median
- 5.084
- Best in Eastern Asia
- 2.347 Macau
Key 4 of 4
Vulnerable Employment
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
7.487
Vulnerable employment (% of total employment)
Lower is better
Japan: 7.487. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 0.456 (Qatar) to 90.22 (Chad); the world median is 28.67.
- World median
- 28.67
- Best in Eastern Asia
- 3.326 Macau
02Over time
Which way Japan is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Employment-to-Population Ratio
Employed share of the population aged 15+ (%) · higher is better
JapanWorld median
Japan rose from 59.48 in 2000 to 61.89 in 2025; the world median went from 55.86 to 57.72.
Every year’s figures
Year Japan World median 2025 61.89 57.720 2024 61.72 57.694 2023 61.27 58.158 2022 60.87 57.688 2021 60.31 56.066 2020 60.21 55.691 2019 60.55 57.871 2018 59.93 56.911 2017 58.74 56.738 2016 58.11 56.845 2015 57.49 56.788 2014 57.31 56.774 2013 56.85 56.229 2012 56.44 56.289 2011 56.55 56.297 2010 56.54 56.212 2009 56.83 56.255 2008 57.75 57.308 2007 58.05 56.933 2006 57.89 56.685 2005 57.73 56.129 2004 57.56 55.465 2003 57.58 55.630 2002 57.94 55.843 2001 58.88 56.018 2000 59.48 55.861 Labour Income Share
Labour income share of GDP (%) · higher is better
JapanWorld median
Japan rose from 53.72 in 2004 to 54.41 in 2025; the world median went from 46.01 to 46.23.
Every year’s figures
Year Japan World median 2025 54.409 46.230 2024 54.809 46.060 2023 54.351 45.900 2022 56.321 45.615 2021 56.215 45.433 2020 56.322 47.267 2019 55.100 46.277 2018 54.364 46.187 2017 52.748 46.467 2016 52.879 46.798 2015 52.395 46.876 2014 53.620 47.281 2013 54.133 46.887 2012 54.821 46.231 2011 55.233 45.679 2010 54.368 46.024 2009 56.211 47.071 2008 55.484 45.312 2007 54.349 45.246 2006 54.614 45.670 2005 54.041 46.265 2004 53.715 46.012 Unemployment Rate
Unemployment (% of labour force) · lower is better
JapanWorld median
Japan fell from 4.748 in 2000 to 2.451 in 2025; the world median went from 6.918 to 5.084.
Every year’s figures
Year Japan World median 2025 2.451 5.08 2024 2.500 5.15 2023 2.600 5.21 2022 2.614 5.34 2021 2.808 6.04 2020 2.809 6.38 2019 2.351 5.36 2018 2.467 5.35 2017 2.822 5.59 2016 3.132 5.90 2015 3.385 6.41 2014 3.589 6.58 2013 4.038 6.71 2012 4.358 6.79 2011 4.550 6.90 2010 5.102 7.04 2009 5.068 6.67 2008 4.002 5.79 2007 3.888 6.00 2006 4.192 6.50 2005 4.446 7.09 2004 4.734 6.80 2003 5.251 6.95 2002 5.386 6.91 2001 5.020 6.96 2000 4.748 6.92 Vulnerable Employment
Vulnerable employment (% of total employment) · lower is better
JapanWorld median
Japan fell from 13.25 in 2000 to 7.487 in 2025; the world median went from 35.67 to 28.67.
Every year’s figures
Year Japan World median 2025 7.4873 28.67 2024 7.6330 29.04 2023 7.8791 29.33 2022 7.8877 29.67 2021 8.6508 30.01 2020 8.1092 30.54 2019 8.1087 29.98 2018 8.2247 30.15 2017 8.3196 29.93 2016 8.4278 29.91 2015 8.8195 30.26 2014 9.0778 30.47 2013 9.1287 31.14 2012 9.3193 31.00 2011 9.3987 31.41 2010 9.6313 32.37 2009 9.9515 32.59 2008 10.2565 31.76 2007 10.5453 33.47 2006 10.9351 34.27 2005 11.7432 34.66 2004 12.0403 35.51 2003 12.1424 35.90 2002 12.3096 35.96 2001 12.6625 35.27 2000 13.2464 35.67
03In context
Japan beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 182 countries on work & labour, never a place within the region.
Japan and Eastern Asia
Japan has no land border, so the table compares it with its sub-region. Standing among all 182; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Employment-to-Population RatioEmployed share of the population aged 15+ (%) | Labour Income ShareLabour income share of GDP (%) | Unemployment RateUnemployment (% of labour force) | Vulnerable EmploymentVulnerable employment (% of total employment) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | 2nd | 61.89 | 54.41 | 2.451 | 7.487 |
 South Koreacompare | 3rd | 62.62 | 58.68 | 2.683 | 17.69 |
 Hong Kong | 22nd | 54.78 | 53.36 | 2.799 | 5.761 |
 Macau | =26th | 66.25 | 30.07 | 2.347 | 3.326 |
 Chinacompare | 60th | 61.57 | 51.23 | 4.615 | 33.4 |
 North Korea | 81st | 79.24 | 38.55 | 3.545 | 56.77 |
 Mongolia | 148th | 56.56 | 32.88 | 5.233 | 38.37 |
 Taiwan | not placed | — | 52.2 | — | — |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Eastern Asia
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 182.
Placed either side on work & labour
The countries immediately above and below Japan in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Japan is ahead of the world, and behind
24 more statistics filed under work & labour, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median15
Statistics on which Japan does better than the middle country measured.
Firms Competing Against Informal FirmsWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 41.815.87641.81No earlier reading
Japan: 5.876 · world median 41.81 · Firms competing against unregistered or informal firms (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 1.926 to 90.5; lower is better.
Position 178th of 181 · derived, 1st = worst.
Length of Paid Paternity LeaveWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 3283▲ Improved since 2015
Japan: 28 · world median 3 · Paid paternity leave set in law (calendar days). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 196; higher is better.
Youth Unemployment RateILO · 2025 · world median 12.833.89812.83▲ Improved since 2015
Japan: 3.898 · world median 12.83 · Unemployment, ages 15-24 (% of youth labour force). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.457 to 76.77; lower is better.
Position 164th of 182 · derived, 1st = worst.
Low Pay RateILO · 2024 · world median 17.8910.4717.89▲ Improved since 2014
Japan: 10.47 · world median 17.89 · Employees paid less than two-thirds of the median hourly earnings (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 3.395 to 41.69; lower is better.
Position 63rd of 71 · derived, 1st = worst.
Employment Injury Protection CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 45.989.945.9No earlier reading
Japan: 89.9 · world median 45.9 · Labour force covered in the event of a work injury (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Human Capital Wealth per CapitaWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 25,230231,11625,230No real change since 2010
Japan: 231,116 · world median 25,230 · Human capital per person — present value of future earnings (real chained 2019 US$). World Bank Group, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 700.38 to 735,422; higher is better.
Position 23rd of 151 · derived.
Labour Productivity per Hour WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 22.1652.7122.16▼ Worsened since 2015
Japan: 52.71 · world median 22.16 · Output per hour worked (constant 2021 international $ at PPP). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.92 to 164.65; higher is better.
Position 40th of 182 · derived.
Unemployment Benefit CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 024.90No earlier reading
Japan: 24.9 · world median 0 · Unemployed people receiving unemployment benefits (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
GDP per Person EmployedWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 47,38487,88847,384▼ Worsened since 2015
Japan: 87,888 · world median 47,384 · GDP per person employed (constant 2021 international $). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2,456 to 262,554; higher is better.
Position 42nd of 168 · derived.
Fatal Occupational InjuriesILO · 2023 · world median 2.0051.322.005▲ Improved since 2016
Japan: 1.32 · world median 2.005 · Fatal occupational injuries per 100,000 workers. International Labour Organization (ILO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.12 to 8.409; lower is better.
Compliance with Labour RightsILO · 2024 · world median 1.611.111.61No real change since 2015
Japan: 1.11 · world median 1.61 · Compliance with freedom of association and collective bargaining rights (0 = best, 10 = worst). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 10; lower is better.
Female Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 53.3655.9153.36▲ Improved since 2015
Japan: 55.91 · world median 53.36 · Women aged 15+ in the labour force (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 4.663 to 82.91; higher is better.
Position 75th of 182 · derived.
Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 61.6663.4561.66▲ Improved since 2015
Japan: 63.45 · world median 61.66 · Population aged 15+ in the labour force (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.34 to 87.01; higher is better.
Position 79th of 182 · derived.
Firms Offering Formal TrainingWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 32.0733.3832.07No earlier reading
Japan: 33.38 · world median 32.07 · Firms offering formal training to permanent full-time workers (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 1.42 to 79.12; higher is better.
Trade Union DensityILO · 2020 · world median 16.6816.816.68No earlier reading
Japan: 16.8 · world median 16.68 · Employees who are trade union members (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 0.2 to 91.42; higher is better.
Position 68th of 139 · derived.
Behind the world median2
Statistics on which Japan does worse than the middle country measured.
Labour Inspectors per 10,000 Employed PersonsILO · 2024 · world median 0.5750.460.575No earlier reading
Japan: 0.46 · world median 0.575 · Labour inspectors per 10,000 employed persons. International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.07 to 3.89; higher is better.
Firms with a Female Top ManagerWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 19.169.62519.16No earlier reading
Japan: 9.625 · world median 19.16 · Firms with a female top manager (%). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1.429 to 62.9; higher is better.
Position 143rd of 179 · derived.
Level with the median, or no median to compare1
Length of Paid Maternity LeaveWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 989898▼ Worsened since 2015
Japan: 98 · world median 98 · Paid maternity leave set in law (calendar days). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 410; higher is better.
No better end6
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Statutory Minimum WageILO · 2024 · world median 657.951,839657.95Moved since 2014
Japan: 1,839 · world median 657.95 · Statutory minimum wage per month (2021 PPP $). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 4.038 to 3,804.
Employment in ServicesILO · 2025 · world median 59.5173.9659.51No real change since 2015
Japan: 73.96 · world median 59.51 · Employment in services (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 11.56 to 92.17.
Position 41st of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Employment in IndustryILO · 2025 · world median 18.8823.2318.88Moved since 2015
Japan: 23.23 · world median 18.88 · Employment in industry (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 3.103 to 39.44.
Position 52nd of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Employment in AgricultureILO · 2025 · world median 14.382.81414.38Moved since 2015
Japan: 2.814 · world median 14.38 · Employment in agriculture (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.095 to 85.34.
Position 144th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Average Weekly Hours WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 38.8931.138.89Moved since 2015
Japan: 31.1 · world median 38.89 · Average weekly hours actually worked per employed person. International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.64 to 54.7.
Position 162nd of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Self-Employment RateILO · 2025 · world median 31.849.05131.84No real change since 2015
Japan: 9.051 · world median 31.84 · Self-employed (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.832 to 91.56.
Position 166th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
No current reading for Japan
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added per Worker (last 2024), Average Monthly Earnings of Employees (last 2021), Composite Rate of Labour Underutilisation (LU4), Female Share of Senior and Middle Management (last 2023), Gini Index of Monthly Earnings, Informal Employment Rate, Public Sector Employment, Share of Temporary Employees (last 2023), Working Poverty Rate and Youth Not in Education, Employment or Training (last 2019). Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Work & Labour among Japan’s 15 topics
Work & Labour is Japan’s best-placed topic of 15. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Work & Labour2nd of 1824/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation2nd of 1764/4 keys
- Food & Agriculture5th of 1842/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing7th of 2003/4 keys
- Digital & Technologyjoint 9th of 1984/4 keys
- Governance & Institutionsjoint 10th of 1944/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge13th of 1982/4 keys
- Peace & Security12th of 1774/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital18th of 1963/3 keys
- Mobility & Trade25th of 1774/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties28th of 1984/4 keys
- Risk & Resilience55th of 1934/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality56th of 1593/3 keys
- Gender & Equalityjoint 116th of 1834/4 keys
- Environment & Sustainability161st of 1864/4 keys
No standing on Energy: too few of those topics’ key statistics are published for this country.
06The top of the list
Who leads on work & labour
The three countries placed highest of 182, and the leaders Japan can most readily be measured against.
1
IcelandNorthern Europe
1st of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Hansueli Krapf · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
- 2Japan
Eastern Asia
2nd of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: JurriaanH · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3South KoreaEastern Asia
3rd of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Unknown author · CC BY-SA 2.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Asia
Japan2nd4/4 keys
Positions out of 182 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Analysis
Charts and analysis about Japan and work & labour
On work & labour
Countries in Asia with the highest average salaries 2024
Thirteen Asian countries by gross average monthly wage, each carrying its WORLD rank rather than an Asian one — so the numbers skip, from 11th place to 45th.
On work & labour
Countries With The Highest Average Salaries in 2024
The ten highest-paying countries of 2024, their bars coloured by continent, and six more added for comparison — from Australia in 13th place to India in 85th.
On work & labour
Countries With The Lowest Average Salaries in 2024
The bottom ten of 196 countries, and six more added for comparison. Niger, Madagascar and Liberia are all published at US$47 a month and still carry three different ranks.
08Questions
Japan on work & labour: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Japan rank on work & labour?
Japan is placed 2nd of 182 countries on Work & Labour in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics (Employment-to-Population Ratio, Labour Income Share, Unemployment Rate and Vulnerable Employment). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Employment-to-Population Ratio figure for Japan?
61.89 in 2025 (employed share of the population aged 15+ (%)), according to International Labour Organization (ILO). The world median in the same edition was 57.72.
What is the latest Labour Income Share figure for Japan?
54.41 in 2025 (labour income share of GDP (%)), according to International Labour Organization (ILO). The world median in the same edition was 46.23.
How have Japan’s work & labour figures changed?
Employment-to-Population Ratio rose from 59.48 in 2000 to 61.89 in 2025; Labour Income Share rose from 53.72 in 2004 to 54.41 in 2025; Unemployment Rate fell from 4.748 in 2000 to 2.451 in 2025; Vulnerable Employment fell from 13.25 in 2000 to 7.487 in 2025.
Which work & labour statistics are missing for Japan?
No current reading is published for Japan on Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added per Worker, Average Monthly Earnings of Employees, Composite Rate of Labour Underutilisation (LU4), Female Share of Senior and Middle Management, Gini Index of Monthly Earnings, Informal Employment Rate, Public Sector Employment, Share of Temporary Employees, Working Poverty Rate and Youth Not in Education, Employment or Training. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Wages in money terms are not a key here, because pay figures are hard to compare fairly across countries with very different prices. Labour productivity, working hours, youth unemployment and the balance between farming, industry and services are published on this page as context. The size and growth of the wider economy belong to Economy & Innovation.
How the Work & Labour standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The work & labour method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Employment-to-Population Ratio — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Labour Income Share — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Unemployment Rate — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Vulnerable Employment — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
The other 24 statistics on this page come from 2 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Japan’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Japan (banner) — JurriaanH, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Iceland — Hansueli Krapf, CC BY-SA 3.0
- South Korea — Unknown author, CC BY-SA 2.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Japan: Work & Labour — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/japan/work