#Japan #Tokyo #Unemployment Rate #job market #Tsunagu Group

November 2025 Job Market Report

In the most recent analysis provided by the Tsunagu Work Style Research Institute, a subsidiary of Tsunagu Group Holdings, November 2025 shows a consistent job openings ratio of 1.18. This stable figure mirrors the previous month’s statistics but marks a slight decline of 0.07 points compared to the same month last year. The data provides critical insights into Japan's current labor landscape, amidst ongoing global challenges.

Key Highlights

1. Job Openings Ratio: Holding at 1.18, indicating stability in job offerings despite a year-on-year decline of 0.07 points.
2. Unemployment Rate: Standing steady at 2.6%, with a slight year-on-year increase of 0.1%. Observations reveal that the demographic of individuals aged 55-64 saw a notable rise of 0.3 points in unemployment.
3. New Job Listings: An alarming decrease in new job opportunities was recorded, plummeting by 10.4% compared to the same month last year; this marks the seventh consecutive month of decline.

Detailed Analysis

Job Openings Ratio

The effective job openings ratio, which is seasonally adjusted, reflects an environment where employers continue to seek talent. However, when breaking down the numbers, part-time roles indicate a ratio of 1.11, revealing a year-over-year decrease of 0.08 points. Furthermore, the ratio for full-time positions has dropped to 0.98, falling below the threshold of 1 for the second consecutive month—indicating a surplus of job seekers over available full-time roles.

These figures highlight a crucial aspect of the labor market: while employers still have openings available, the quality and type of employment might not align with potential candidates' expectations or needs.

Unemployment Rate

In parallel, the unemployment rate remaining stable at 2.6% suggests that while jobs are available, challenges persist in equating those opportunities with job seekers. The number of fully unemployed individuals has risen, totaling 1.71 million, which reflects an increase of 70,000 individuals compared to last year. The increase concentrated primarily among older workers, emphasizing a potential gap in job retention for this age group in the current labor market.

Decline in New Job Listings

One of the more concerning statistics from the report is the 10.4% decrease in new job postings compared to the same time last year. The continuous decline over the last seven months hints at a broader economic issue—many industries faced decreases in hiring opportunities. Specific sectors such as household services and leisure saw cuts by nearly 19.9%, with sales and retail sectors down 17.2%. This trend necessitates greater scrutiny of industry stability and may require proactive measures from the government and private sector to encourage job creation.

Conclusion

The November 2025 report by the Tsunagu Work Style Research Institute illustrates a complex and evolving labor market in Japan. With job openings showing some stability and unemployment rates not fluctuating drastically, the underlying issues of decreasing new job listings and sector-specific challenges could indicate a need for increased attention on employment strategies and policies.

About Tsunagu Work Style Research Institute

Founded in 2015, the Tsunagu Work Style Research Institute conducts extensive research on diverse work styles. Partnered with leading experts in HR and labor law, the institute strives to analyze and propose solutions to improve Japan's labor landscape, aiming to bridge the existing employment gap projected for 2030.

Additional Information

For further insights, refer to the sources from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and the Statistics Bureau of Japan's labor force survey data.

Visit Tsunagu Group for more on their initiatives and mission to resolve labor market issues in Japan.