The number of Japan’s non-regular employees, which includes temporary workers, dispatch workers, contractors, part-time workers and others, totalled 20.64 million in May 2023, down 0.1% when compared to the same period a year ago, according to data from Statistics Japan.

Data from Statistics Japan also found that the number of ‘dispatched workers from temporary labour agencies’ increased by 2.6% over the year and stood at a total of 1.59 million while the number of temporary workers overall increased by 2.3% to 4.50 million.

Meanwhile, Japan’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate stood at 2.6%, no change over the month and also no change over the same period a year ago.

On a non-seasonally adjusted basis, the unemployment rate stood at 2.7%, down 0.1% over the year.

The country’s employment rate in May totalled 61.2%, up 0.2% over the year. The labour force participation rate stood at 62.9%, up 0.2% over the year.

By industry, information and communications saw an increase of 4.8% over the year, the biggest increase in May. On the other hand agriculture and forestry saw the steepest decline at 6.8%.

Japan’s job availability ratio fell to 1.31 in May from 1.32 in April.