Unemployment Rate: Japan
Current Value (2024)
2.5%
All-Time Peak (2002)
5.4%
All-Time Low (1991)
2.1%
Unemployment Rate — Japan
Analysis# Japan's Unemployment Rate Analysis (1991–2024)
Japan's unemployment rate has declined substantially from its 2002 peak of 5.386%—a crisis point following the burst of the 1990s asset bubble and prolonged "Lost Decade"—to 2.5% in 2024, approaching the 1991 low of 2.059% and reflecting structural labor market tightening amid demographic decline. The 33-year trend reveals two distinct phases: a deterioration period (1991–2002) driven by deflation and corporate restructuring, followed by a gradual recovery (2002–2024) accelerated by Abenomics stimulus and chronic
Historical Data
| Year | Value | Change % |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2.5% | -3.85% |
| 2023 | 2.6% | -0.54% |
| 2022 | 2.6% | -6.91% |
| 2021 | 2.8% | -0.04% |
| 2020 | 2.8% | +19.48% |
| 2019 | 2.4% | -4.70% |
| 2018 | 2.5% | -12.58% |
| 2017 | 2.8% | -9.90% |
| 2016 | 3.1% | -7.47% |
| 2015 | 3.4% | -5.68% |
| 2014 | 3.6% | -11.12% |
| 2013 | 4.0% | -7.34% |
| 2012 | 4.4% | -4.22% |
| 2011 | 4.5% | -10.82% |
| 2010 | 5.1% | +0.67% |
| 2009 | 5.1% | +26.64% |
| 2008 | 4.0% | +2.93% |
| 2007 | 3.9% | -7.25% |
| 2006 | 4.2% | -5.71% |
| 2005 | 4.4% | -6.08% |
Show all 34 rows
| Year | Value | Change % |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 4.7% | -9.85% |
| 2003 | 5.3% | -2.51% |
| 2002 | 5.4% | +7.29% |
| 2001 | 5.0% | +5.73% |
| 2000 | 4.7% | +1.52% |
| 1999 | 4.7% | +14.69% |
| 1998 | 4.1% | +20.87% |
| 1997 | 3.4% | -0.27% |
| 1996 | 3.4% | +7.40% |
| 1995 | 3.1% | +9.00% |
| 1994 | 2.9% | +13.82% |
| 1993 | 2.5% | +17.66% |
| 1992 | 2.2% | +4.81% |
| 1991 | 2.1% | — |