Thursday May 24, 2012

JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION

Japan's unemployment rate falls to 4.3%

Business Sep. 30, 2011 - 02:45PM JST ( 21 )

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

Order by Time Order by Popularity

21 Comments

-2

JapanGalSep. 30, 2011 - 12:32PM JST

McDonald's must have added more to their rosters.

Why leave out the three prefectures? It totally distorts the results.
-1

some14someSep. 30, 2011 - 12:34PM JST

4.3%...? So approx. how many people are out of work? 4.3% !
0

Mark_McCrackenSep. 30, 2011 - 01:00PM JST

For comparison, it was 4.7% in July.
-1

Graham DeShazoSep. 30, 2011 - 01:05PM JST

"The ministry mentioned on pg. 458 that the rate including the three prefectures rose to 10% with unemployment within the three running at 23%. When asked by reporters why this figure was on the last page and in 3 pt. font, a ministry official replied 'Setsuden dakara.'"

Of course this is not true, but it might as well be. Unemployment in Japan is persistent and structural. Once you fall by the way-side, you rarely regain your previous economic footing again, and the Government does not particularly care because it MUST be due to your personal weaknesses.
0

ExportExpertSep. 30, 2011 - 01:05PM JST

The report does not include the three prefectures hardest hit by the tsunami—Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima. It also does not account for unemployed workers who have simply given up seeking jobs.

These figures do not represent anything real - how about including the real figures ie those who are actually unemployed, dont exclude those who have become brow beaten by the system and given up as im sure there will be many 1,000s of them. Also you should include the prefectures hit by the disasters, this window dressing reporting by the ministry shows nothing but the fact someone at the ministry has creative counting systems, it's B.S.
-2

zichiSep. 30, 2011 - 01:23PM JST

Since 3/11 the unemployment rate in the disaster zones has doubled to more than the national rate. Many who are still working there, are working for less salaries than before, including less than the legal minimum wage. Some companies are using the disaster to their benefit. I know people in Miyagi working for ¥500/hr.

Many people who lose their work don't register has unemployed. The true figure will be near to 8-10%.

Once again, a government is being creative with it's accounting!
0

Patrick SmashSep. 30, 2011 - 01:29PM JST

You are only counted as unemployed if you had unemployment insurance, and you only remain unemployed until it runs out. The true figure is probably 8-10% (as an international comparison) as zichi wrote above.
-1

zichiSep. 30, 2011 - 01:44PM JST

And when you factor in the low paid, the homeless, the working poor, the figure would shoot above 20%.

It would be more honest and meaningful if governments gave the figures for people in employment and not out?
1

CrazyJoeSep. 30, 2011 - 01:56PM JST

Statistics can be misleading, there is much more unemployment than the figures released by the government. It's well over 10% I believe. There is always a difference between the official unemployment rate and the real unemployment rate.
2

crustpunkerSep. 30, 2011 - 03:56PM JST

zichi- I hear ya but since WHEN has any government EVER been in the business of being honest or meaningful?
-1

cactusJackSep. 30, 2011 - 04:03PM JST

A number of 4.3% is obviously padded. I wonder why they even bother, but then again, is the public too stupid not to realize it?
-1

sourpussSep. 30, 2011 - 07:54PM JST

Yes, let's all turn a good thing into a bad thing now. Yes. Now that makes us all feel better, doesn't it? Yes.
0

jforceSep. 30, 2011 - 08:40PM JST

The figures account for those that collected UI only. Seriously! So those that don't have the benefit of getting UI with their jobs (most foreigners and others listed as part-timers working a full schedule) aren't included in these numbers. Lucky for the foreigners there seems to be more options to make a survivable wage, but the locals ... or as they put it above: "unemployed workers who have simply given up seeking jobs" are S.O.L. - outta luck. Nice way to label the unemployed. Real unbiased reporting there AP. Whose fault is it anyway?
0

ironchefSep. 30, 2011 - 11:49PM JST

twisted statistics yet again. This doesn't reflect the true nature of the employment situation here in Japan. Like many have said, it doesn't include those who gave up looking and the underemployed. Until corporate Japan (and the rest of the world in fact) starts using the cash they've been hoarding up and invest in creating jobs and real growth, this employment situation will just worsen.
0

Hide SuzukiOct. 01, 2011 - 02:19AM JST

Many people seem clueless as to what unemployed means. The definition of unemployed = Actively looking for a job but can't find any. If you don't have a job but sitting at home doing nothing, how can a potential employer find you ?
0

globalwatcherOct. 04, 2011 - 07:01AM JST

This translates to US unemployment of 8.6% level. Still too high!
1

spiddygyOct. 04, 2011 - 12:19PM JST

Add students who graduated but couldn't find Jobs and so gave up, some are still at school not knowing on what to do. Companies are still laying people off instead of hiring them, trade is down, with high yen and high taxes, how can you create Jobs, then say the rates are going down? You have to be asleep to believe in anything the govt tells you.
-2

JeremiahWOct. 04, 2011 - 12:28PM JST

One quarter the rate we have in the US.Good thing Japan's low rate of unemployment has always aroused so little interest beyond its shores.
0

It"S MEOct. 04, 2011 - 12:36PM JST

This isn't the true rate.

As an active job-seeker I can tell you that I get more turned down for my age, sex and not being japanese than anything. Similar is true for many japanese, people between the ages of 40-60 those struggle the most to find some work right now.

Was at HW today, got turned down for 3 jobs and 2 asked for my CV. Better to with agencies like Recruit really.

Also most companies now no longer use HW to advertise for employees, this is known and thus many job-seekers now no longer register with HW once their unemployment pay runs out.

Add to that you can access the HW job-listings online and can do so without being registered there.

The image is not as sweet as many people want to think.
1

PT24881Oct. 04, 2011 - 11:57PM JST

Extra care & attention should be given to those regions hard hit by the disasters should we refer to the more realistic figures of up to 23% jobless rate in the Tohoku !
0

globalwatcherOct. 05, 2011 - 08:01AM JST

You are only counted as unemployed if you had unemployment insurance

Very true.

In Japan, most of young Japanese workers are on unemployment insurance for only 3 months while all US unemployment insurance extends to 6 months (some states extend it up to almost 2 yrs.) here.

Plus, I am not sure if this stastics includes jobless victims in Tohoku. Therefore, Japanese unemployment statistics is meaningless to us. After reading all blogs here, my guess is the real jobless situation is much worse than what's been reported here. I am not surprised if real unemployment data is more than 15% in Japan.

J. government needs to take a bold action to create jobs, jobs, and jobs.