Japan's jobs-to-applicant ratio falls to 1.22 in June
It marked a second consecutive month of decreases. Applicants increased as soaring prices of food and other goods drew many into the job market to earn money to cover living expenses.
The ratio indicates the number of jobs available to each applicant at public employment security offices across the country.
The number of effective job seekers rose 0.4%, while that of effective job openings was down 1.2% due to a decrease of large-scale recruitment.
Separately, the internal affairs ministry said that the country's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in June stood at 2.5%, unchanged from May. The number of unemployed people was at about the same level as in the previous month, at 1.72 million, while that of people with jobs declined by 50,000 to 68.32 million.
The unadjusted number of employed people totaled 68.73 million, the highest since comparable data became available in January 1953. The increase reflected the growth in the number of female workers.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Japan Today
an hour ago
- Japan Today
Honda forecasts drop in profits despite strong U.S. auto sales
FILE - This Feb. 14, 2013, file photo shows a Honda logo on the trunk of a Honda automobile at the Pittsburgh Auto Show, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File) By YURI KAGEYAMA Honda's profit in the last quarter was half of what it was a year earlier, the company said Wednesday, as automakers were hit by 25% tariffs on vehicle exports to the United States. The Japanese automaker reported Wednesday that its April-June profit totaled 196.7 billion yen, about half of what it earned during the same period the previous year at 394.7 billion yen. Quarterly sales edged 1.2% lower to 5.3 trillion yen. The Tokyo-based maker of the Accord sedan and Asimo robot revised upward its profit forecast for the full fiscal year through March 2026 to 420 billion yen, better than its earlier estimate of 250 billion yen. The improved projection still marks a 50% drop from the previous year's results. Honda stuck to its forecast to sell 3.62 million vehicles worldwide in this fiscal year. It said its motorcycle business in Brazil and Vietnam was solid, while North American car sales also remained strong despite headwinds from the tariffs. The negative impact of the tariffs was estimated at about 450 billion yen ($3 billion), based on 'a detailed review,' according to Honda. The company's auto sales declined year-on-year in Japan, the rest of Asia and Europe. Honda's quarterly global auto sales totaled 839,000 units, down from 869,000 the same period last year. Honda also said it posted a one-time expense related to electric vehicles, such as losses related to EVs sold in the U.S. and write-offs for lineup changes. Eiji Fujimura, Honda's chief financial officer and director, welcomed an agreement between the U.S. and Japan to cut an initially planned 25% tariff on imported autos to 15%. That will work as 'a positive' for the company's business, customers, suppliers and shareholders, he said, even if it's higher than the original level. Fujimura stressed that Honda has long tried to promote free trade and fair competition around the world to deliver quality products and, in his words, 'contribute to the local community.' 'Now we must face up to this new normal,' he told reporters. © Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
NHK
an hour ago
- NHK
New US tariff rate of 15% to come into effect Thursday
New tariff rates on trading partners of the United States come into effect at midnight Wednesday in Washington. That's 1 p.m., Japan time, on Thursday. Japan and the United States reached an agreement last month to impose a new 15 percent baseline import tariff rate on Japan. Immediately after the deal was clinched, the Japanese government explained that the 15 percent rate would be imposed on items currently subject to a lower rate -- and that nothing would change for those whose tariffs are already 15 percent or higher. But there was no mention of this in the executive order US President Donald Trump signed on July 31 or in related documents released by the White House. That's despite a flat 15 percent rate being set down in a similar agreement reached between the European Union and the United States. It also remains unclear when the US tariffs on Japanese autos will be lowered from the current 27.5 percent to 15 percent. Japan's top trade negotiator, Akazawa Ryosei, now in Washington, is calling on his US counterparts to lower tariffs on Japanese automobiles and car parts at an early date.
NHK
an hour ago
- NHK
Trump signs executive order slapping extra 25% tariff on imports from India
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed an executive order imposing an additional 25 percent tariff on goods from India, citing the country's purchase of crude oil and oil products from Russia. The move is seen as Trump's attempt to increase pressure on Russia as the White House is demanding that Moscow agrees to a ceasefire with Ukraine. White House sources say the move will raise the total tariff on Indian imports to the US to 50 percent, as Washington had already announced plans to impose 25 percent tariffs on New Delhi. A statement by India's external affairs ministry released the same day reads that the country reiterates "that these actions are unfair, unjustified and unreasonable." It goes on to say that "India will take all actions necessary to protect its national interests."
