Each chart is drawn from the same sources as the rest of The Hardest Market: official statistics, the law as enacted, and our own calculators. Open one for the full-size version, the source, a PNG download, share links and an embed code.
Employment law
Five of the next 15 employment law changes land on 1 April 2027Every confirmed change to employment, tax, immigration and social insurance rules from December 2026 to October 2028, by the date it takes effect.
Tax and social insurance
Two income walls are gone. The ¥1.3 million cliff remainsThe salary levels at which a part-time worker starts paying tax or social insurance, or stops counting as a dependant, in 2026.
Pay
On an ¥8 million salary in Tokyo, the employee keeps 74%The employer spends ¥9.25 million. The employee keeps ¥5.95 million. Where the difference goes, at October 2026 rates.
Labour market
Specified Skilled Worker grew 38% in a year, faster than any other statusJapan's 2.57 million foreign workers, by the status of residence that lets them work.
Working time
Japan caps overtime at 45 hours a month, and never allows 100How much overtime is legal in a month, and what it must pay. No 36 Agreement on file means no lawful overtime at all.
Hiring
Graduate hiring starts with internships, ten months before the official June startThe government schedule for the class of 2027, and what happens in practice.
Related: Labour Law Tracker · Japan HR calendar · Japan HR statistics · Japan HR glossary
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