The number of Japan's non-regular employees, including temporary workers, dispatch workers, contractors, part-time workers, and others, totalled 21.40 million in October 2023. This is up by 1.1% compared to the same period a year ago, according to data from Statistics Japan.

The number of 'dispatched workers from temporary labour agencies' increased by 9.7% over the year and stood at a total of 1.59 million, while the number of temporary workers overall increased by 6.9% to 4.82 million.

October’s labour market data also found that Japan's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate stood at 2.5%, down 0.1% over the year and down 0.1% over the month.

On a non-seasonally adjusted basis, the unemployment rate was 2.5%, down 0.1% over the year. The number of unemployed persons stood at 1.75 million, down 1.7% over the year.

At the same time, the number of employed persons totalled 67.71 million, up 0.2% over the year.

The education and learning support sector saw the steepest decline at 4.7% in October. On the other hand, the highest increase was seen in the accommodation, eating, and drinking services sector with a 4.6% uptick in October.