Japan’s non-regular employees, which includes temporary workers, dispatch workers, contractors, part-time workers and others, totalled 21.21 million in August 2022, up 2.4% when compared to the same period a year ago, according to data from Statistics Japan.

The number of ‘dispatched workers from temporary labour agencies’ reported an increase of 2.8% over the year and stood at a total of 1.49 million while the number of temporary workers overall increased by 7.1% to 4.68 million.

Labour market data also showed that the unemployment rate stood at 2.6%, down 0.2% over the year and down 0.1% compared to the previous month.

On a seasonally adjusted basis, the unemployment rate stood at 2.5%, down 0.1% compared to the previous month and down 0.3% compared to the previous year.

The total number of unemployed persons stood at 1.77 million, down 8.8% over the year. The number of employed persons stood at 67.51 million, up 0.2% over the year.

By sector, the number of employed persons increased the most in Information and Communication (7.1%) and decreased the most in Scientific research, professional and technical services (-4.9%).

Japan’s job availability ratio stood at 1.32 in August, up from 1.29 over the previous month.