There are more jobs than job seekers in Japan, and the gap grew slightly in September. The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) reported on 30 October 2026 that the effective job openings-to-applicants ratio was 1.19 in September (seasonally adjusted), 0.01 point higher than in August. In other words, there were 119 job openings for every 100 people looking for work at Hello Work, the public employment service.
The ratio of new job openings to new applicants rose to 2.19, and the ratio for full-time regular positions was 1.01.
Which industries are hiring
Compared with September 2025, new job offers grew in manufacturing (+8.2%), information and communications (+5.9%) and other services (+4.9%). They fell in living-related services and entertainment (−6.7%), wholesale and retail (−6.3%) and accommodation and food services (−6.3%). Overall, new job offers were 0.4% lower than a year earlier.
Regional differences
Measured by place of work, Fukui and Yamanashi had the highest ratio (1.74) and Osaka the lowest (0.96). Measured by the Hello Work office that received the job offer, Tokyo was highest (1.71) and Kanagawa lowest (0.83).
The Statistics Bureau’s Labour Force Survey for September shows the same tight market: the unemployment rate fell to 2.4%, and 68.96 million people were in work, 330,000 more than a year before.
Higher minimum wages
Japan’s minimum wages are also going up. The MHLW says the new regional minimum wages rise by ¥54 to ¥65 an hour, to a national weighted average of ¥1,177 (up from ¥1,121). The highest rate is ¥1,280 and the lowest ¥1,085. They take effect prefecture by prefecture between 1 October and 2 December 2026. The minimum wage applies to foreign workers in the same way as to Japanese workers.
Why it matters
A tight labour market helps job seekers, but demand depends on the industry and region: openings in manufacturing and IT are rising, while retail and restaurants are hiring less. Check that your visa allows the job you want before you apply. See our guides to the Specified Skilled Worker visa, the Engineer / Humanities / International Services visa and taxes for workers.