Occupational Accidents in 2024

The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare compiled data on labour accidents that occurred between January 1, 2024, and June 30, 2024, based on reports received by July 9, 2024. The number of fatalities from occupational accidents decreased by 1.0%, while the number of injuries resulting in four or more days of leave increased by 2.2%.

here were 299 fatalities from accidents, a 1.0% decrease compared to the same period last year. Looking at accidents by industry, the tertiary sector decreased by 11.7%, land freight transport by 8.7%, while the construction industry increased by 14.8%, among others.

The number of injuries resulting in four or more days of leave totaled 54,134, marking a 2.2% increase from the previous year. By industry, the tertiary sector increased by 3.9%, land freight transport by 2.5%, and the construction industry decreased by 2.3%, among others.

Labour Force Survey Monthly Results*1

(1) Employment

The number of employed persons in June 2024 was 68.22 million, an increase of 370,000 over the same month the previous year and the highest number since comparable records began in 1953. By gender, this included 37.30 million men, up 110,000, and 30.93 million women, up 280,000 over the previous year.

(2) Unemployment

The number of unemployed persons in June 2024 was 1.81 million, an increase of 20,000 from the same month in the previous year.
The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in June was 2.5%, down 0.1 points from the previous month, marking the first improvement in five months. The unemployment rate for men was 2.6%, down 0.3 points from the previous month, and for women 2.4%, up 0.1 points over the previous month.

(3) Job Availability

Japan’s job availability in June stood at 1.23, down 0.01 points from the previous month, a third consecutive month of decline. This ratio means there were 123 job openings for every 100 job seekers.
The ratio of regular employee job offers to applicants was 1.00, unchanged from the previous month.
The ratio of new job offers to applicants, a leading indicator for the labour market, was 2.26, up 0.1 points over the previous month. The number of new job offers decreased 9.4%. By industry, the manufacturing dropped 14.6%, and living-related and personal services and amusement services fell 13.7%.

Industrial Production*2

Industrial output in June decreased 3.6% from the previous month, affected by vehicle production suspensions due to a certification scandal and weakening overseas demand for semiconductor-related equipment. Production, shipment, and inventories all decreased, while inventory ratio increased. The industries that mainly contributed to this decrease were as follows: (1) motor vehicles; (2) general-purpose and business oriented machinery ; and (3) production machinery, in that order.
According to the Survey of Production Forecasts in Manufacturing, production was expected to increase 6.5% in July and increase 0.7% in August.

Family Income and Expenditure Survey³

(1) Expenditure of Households of Two Persons or More

Average monthly consumption expenditure of households of two or more persons in June was 280,888 yen, up 1.9% in nominal terms but down 1.4% in real terms over the previous year, as rising prices prompted people to cut back on fresh vegetables and fruit.

(2) Income and Expenditures for Workers’ Households

Average monthly income per household stood at 957,457 yen (including bonus payments), up 6.5% in nominal terms and up 3.1% in real terms from the previous year. The average level of consumption expenditure was 300,228 yen per month, up 0.6% in nominal terms but down 2.6% in real terms year-on-year.

Consumer Prices⁴

The consumer price index (CPI) in June was 108.2 (2020 = 100), up 2.8% over the previous year and up 0.3% over the previous month. Core inflation (CPI less food and energy) was up 2.2% over the previous year and up 0.1% over the previous month, reflecting higher energy costs and elevated food prices. Energy prices increased 7.7%, with electricity jumping 13.4%. Accommodation fees jumped up 19.9%, as travel demand continued to recover with the return of foreign tourists to Japan.

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1. Source: Labour Force Survey Monthly Results (Statistics Bureau of Japan)
   (https://www.stat.go.jp/english/data/roudou/results/month/index.html)
2.  Source: Indices of Industrial Production (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)
   (https://www.meti.go.jp/english/statistics/tyo/iip/index.html)
3.  Source: Summary of the Latest Month on Family Income and Expenditure Survey (Statistics Bureau of Japan)
   (https://www.stat.go.jp/english/data/kakei/156.html)
4.  Source: Consumer Price Index (Statistics Bureau of Japan)
   (https://www.stat.go.jp/english/data/cpi/1581-z.html)