Japan Labor Force Participation
Labor force participation rate SL.TLF.CACT.ZS
Japan's labor force participation was 63.45% in 2025, ranked 78th globally. This represents a 0.2% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1990–2025.
Overview
Japan's labor force participation stood at 63.45% in 2025, a rise of +0.15pp from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 63.92% by 2026. Japan ranked 78th globally.
Japan’s labor force participation rate has hovered around the mid‑sixties for three decades, registering 63.45 % in 2025, which places the country 78th in the world. The indicator reached its all‑time high of 63.99 % in 1992, shortly after the end of the asset‑price bubble, and then fell to a trough of 59.01 % in 2012 amid a prolonged period of demographic ageing and stagnant employment growth. Since that low, the rate has recovered modestly, climbing back to just above the 1990 level of 63.39 % and remaining within a narrow band of 0.6 percentage points for the past 13 years. Japan’s performance is comparable to that of Maldives (63.50 %) and Rwanda (63.68 %), both of which rank close to Japan in the global ranking. The near‑steady trajectory suggests that without significant policy shifts to boost female and older‑worker participation, the participation rate is likely to remain stable, with only incremental gains expected in the coming decade.
Data & projection
| Year | Labor Force Participation | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 64.63% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 64.28% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 63.92% | - | - |
| 2025 | 63.45% | +0.15pp | #78 |
| 2024 | 63.30% | +0.40pp | #80 |
| 2023 | 62.90% | +0.40pp | #84 |
| 2022 | 62.50% | +0.45pp | #84 |
| 2021 | 62.05% | +0.11pp | #82 |
| 2020 | 61.95% | −0.06pp | #77 |
| 2019 | 62.01% | +0.56pp | #90 |
| 2018 | 61.45% | +1.00pp | #89 |
| 2017 | 60.44% | +0.46pp | #98 |
| 2016 | 59.99% | +0.49pp | #106 |
| 2015 | 59.50% | +0.06pp | #111 |
| 2014 | 59.44% | +0.20pp | #108 |
| 2013 | 59.25% | +0.23pp | #114 |
| 2012 | 59.01% | −0.24pp | #115 |
| 2011 | 59.25% | −0.33pp | #114 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Japan matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2004. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw labor force participation improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Japan's labor force participation was 63.45% in 2025. Ranked 78th globally. This represents a 0.2% increase from the previous year.
Japan's labor force participation peaked at 63.99% in 1992.
The lowest labor force participation in Japan was 59.01% in 2012.
Japan ranks 78th globally in labor force participation as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.TLF.CACT.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Japan's labor force participation is projected to reach 63.92% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The labor force participation of Japan in 2025 was 63.45%. This ranks 78th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_japan_labor-force-participation,
title = {Japan Labor Force Participation},
url = {https://historysaid.com/japan/labor-force-participation/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}