Japan HR news·Monday 2 November 2026

Job-openings ratio edges up to 1.19; Yamanashi offers ¥1 million for ¥50 raises

The job-openings-to-applicants ratio rose to 1.19 in September while unemployment fell to 2.4%. Yamanashi will subsidise firms that lift hourly pay by ¥50 or more, and MHLW opens a Kumamoto earthquake secondment subsidy.

Data

Job-openings ratio rises to 1.19 in September; unemployment falls to 2.4%

MHLW reported 1.19 job openings per applicant in September, up 0.01 point, with the full-time ratio at 1.01 and the new-openings ratio at 2.19. Active job seekers fell 1.4% on the month. The statistics bureau put unemployment at 2.4% and employment at 68.96 million.

Why it matters: Competition for hires is not easing: keep offers and start dates competitive, especially in manufacturing and IT, where new openings are rising fastest (+8.2% and +5.9% on a year earlier).

Source: MHLWJapanese · Statistics BureauJapanese

Pay

Yamanashi to pay small firms up to ¥1 million for raising hourly pay by ¥50 or more

The prefecture will subsidise small and medium-sized firms that lift hourly wages by at least ¥50, up to ¥1 million a firm. Raises made between 28 August 2026 and 30 June 2027 count. Applications are expected to open in early December. The tier amounts for larger raises were not visible.

Why it matters: Firms in Yamanashi that have already raised pay since late August may qualify. Check the tiers when the guidelines appear and keep records of the raise dates.

Source: Rodo ShimbunJapanese

Law and policy

MHLW creates special secondment subsidy for Kumamoto firms hit by the earthquake

Under the industrial employment stabilisation subsidy, MHLW has added a special course for employers in Kumamoto Prefecture that had to scale back operations after the 2026 earthquake. It supports keeping staff employed through zaiseki-gata shukko, secondments in which the worker stays on the home payroll. Rates and deadlines were not visible.

Why it matters: If you have Kumamoto operations or partner firms with idle staff, secondment can preserve jobs. Ask your labour bureau for the rates and the application window.

Source: Rodo ShimbunJapanese · MHLWJapanese

Workplace

MHLW opens entries for FY2027 older-worker employment contest; deadline 26 February 2027

MHLW and JEED are inviting examples of workplaces that help people over 65 keep working, such as new roles or better working environments. Entrants need a system allowing employment past 65. Winners will be announced in mid-September 2027 and honoured in Tokyo in October 2027.

Why it matters: A cheap way to benchmark your over-65 policies and gain recognition for them. If you plan to enter, start collecting results before the February deadline.

Source: MHLWJapanese

Compiled each weekday morning with AI assistance from the reports linked under each story; summaries are ours, the reporting is theirs. Check the source before acting on anything here. Corrections: editor@hardestmarket.com.