The average hourly rate reached record highs in three major metropolitan areas in Japan for temporary staff for the second consecutive month in four occupations, according to data from the Jobs Research Centre at Recruit Jobs, part of Japanese staffing giant Recruit Holdings.

For temporary staff, the average hourly wage was JPY 1,602 (USD 11.90), an increase of JPY 35 from the same month last year, and a rate of 2.2% year-on-year. The average hourly rate in January was a decrease from the previous month, however, by JPY 11 (USD 0.08).

Record highs were documented for the second consecutive month in sales/service, manufacturing/distribution/cleaning, creative, and IT/technical.

Recruit noted that many people retire toward the end of the fiscal year so the demand for temporary staff tends to increase around that time which could explain the rise in wages. In addition to the growing demand in the restaurant industry, food delivery service is also on the rise.

By area, Tokai saw the largest increase in the average wage for temporary staff by JPY 29 (USD 0.21) year-over-year to JPY 1,422 (USD 10.56). However, the average hourly rate is still the highest in the Kanto region at JPY 1,697 (USD 12.60), which went up by JPY 28 (USD 0.21) from the same month the previous year. The average hourly wage went up by JPY 26 (USD 0.19) in Kansai year-over-year to JPY 1,434 (USD 10.65).

Further data from Recruit found that the average hourly rate for part-time workers in three major metropolitan areas in Japan reached record highs again, according to data from the Jobs Research Centre at Recruit Jobs, part of Japanese staffing giant Recruit Holdings.

The part-time average hourly rate in January was JPY 1,142 (USD 8.48), up by JPY 32 (USD 0.24) from the same month last year or 2.9%.

According to Recruit data, food-related jobs recorded record highs in the three major metropolitan areas of Tokyo, Tokai and Kansai. In fact, demand for workers in this industry is expected to rise in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, and Jobs Research Center Director Kuniko Usagawa said there is a growing need for store event staff for sales and service-related jobs, as well as moving drivers and packing jobs for manufacturing, logistics, and cleaning-related jobs.

“Although there is a social movement toward wage increases, the long-standing shortage of human resources for part-time workers is becoming more pressing, so there is a possibility that hourly wages will continue to increase in a wide range of occupations,” Usagawa said.

Tokai saw the largest average hourly increase for part-time staff by JPY 34 (USD 0.25) to JPY 1,059 (USD 7.86) year-over-year at a rate of 3.3%. Tokyo was next at JPY 28 (USD 0.21) to JPY 1,182 (USD 8.78), at a rate of 2.4%. The Kansai area increased by JPY 27 to JPY 1,114 (USD 8.27), at a rate of 2.5%.