The number of Japan's non-regular employees, including temporary workers, dispatch workers, contractors, part-time workers and others, totalled 21.41 million in September 2023, up 0.4% compared to the same period a year ago, according to data from Statistics Japan.

Further data from Statistics Japan also found that the number of 'dispatched workers from temporary labour agencies' increased by 2.7% over the year and stood at a total of 1.53 million, while the number of temporary workers overall increased by 4.9% to 4.89 million.

Labour market data for September also found that Japan's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate stood at 2.6%, unchanged over the year and down 0.1% over the month.

In September, the total number of unemployed persons stood at 1.77 million on a seasonally adjusted basis, down 4.3% over the month.

On a non-seasonally adjusted basis, the unemployment rate was 2.6%, down 0.1% over the year. The number of unemployed persons stood at 1.82 million, down 2.7% over the year.

The number of employed persons totalled 67.87 million, up 0.3% over the year.

The real estate and goods rental and leasing sector saw the steepest annual fall at 7.5%. Accommodations, eating and drinking services rose by 6.1% over the year, the highest annual increase among sectors.