Two facts from employment and wage statistics What new challenges?
9:07 7:07
It is said that the second Abe administration launched in December 2012 launched a series of economic policies called "Abenomics" and the employment situation has improved significantly.
On the other hand, there are also strong comments that the lives of citizens have not become easier.
What can be said from the employment statistics is that both are true.
Let's take a look at new administration issues from the data.
Recruitment ratio and unemployment rate improved
The ratio of job offers to applicants has greatly improved over the past seven years and eight months under the Abe administration.
Shows how many jobs a company has for each job seeker.
It was 0.83 times in December 2012 when the government was established, but finally rose to 1.63 times, reaching the highest level in 45 years.
The unemployment rate has also improved.
It decreased from 4.3% in December 2012 to 2.2% in November last year.
It has been the lowest level since October 1992.
New employment
The background is the increase in new employment.
The number of “employed people” employed by companies and others = “employers” excluding executives was 56.69 million last year, an increase of more than 4 million compared to 2013, which is comparable.
More than half are non-regular
However, if you look at the details, you can see different aspects.
More than half of the newly added “employees” were non-regular workers such as part-timers, part-time workers, and contract employees.
The proportion of non-regular workers among “employees” tends to increase year by year, increasing by 3 points from 2013, which was 38.2% last year, which is comparable.
Wage data is also ↑↓ both sides
Similarly, the wage data shows the facts on both sides.
The government has repeatedly asked the business world to raise wages, saying that raising wages is essential to break away from deflation.
Under these circumstances, the wage increase rate in the spring fight from 2014 to the year has been in the 2% range for the seventh consecutive year, and it was also called the "government spring fight" at the request of the government.
Regarding the minimum wage, the government has set a goal of achieving an average national wage of 1,000 yen at an early stage, and has drastically increased the level by 3% for the fourth consecutive year until last year.
The total salary per worker compiled by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has increased year-on-year in five of the last seven years.
However, when we look at real wages that reflect fluctuations in prices, the result is the opposite.
Five of the seven years to last year have been negative compared to the previous year.
Although wages have risen, they have not kept up with rising prices.
The statistical data confirms many people's feelings that "living has not become easier".
The corona effect also makes me look dark
And now, employment statistics are beginning to have a serious impact of the new coronavirus.
The ratio of job offers to applicants exceeded 1.6 times, but fell to 1.08 times in July.
The number of “employees” working at companies, etc. also started to decline, and for the fourth consecutive month until July, it was negative compared to the same month last year.
Especially noticeable is the decrease in non-regular workers, showing that wrinkling is the first to reach weaker non-regular workers.
The unemployment rate was low at 2.4% last year on average last year, but it increased to 2.9% in July, and there is concern that it will deteriorate further.
Wages were also severely affected, and the total salary fell below the same month last year for the fourth consecutive month until July.
Especially in the entertainment industry, lodging industry, and restaurant service industry, working hours have become shorter, and overtime expenses have decreased significantly.
The minimum wage increase was 27 yen on a national average last year, but this was only 1 yen.
While it is unclear how far the impact on employment and wages will spread, is it possible to pave the way for improvement?
The new administration will require difficult steering.
Wage increases but life does not improve
According to the statistical data, it seems that there are many companies that say “although their business performance has improved, they have not benefited the lives of their employees”.
"Hirata Seiki", a machining industry in Musashimurayama, Tokyo, is one such company.
Approximately 20 employees process parts for precision machinery etc. upon receiving an order from a major manufacturer.
According to the company, we were able to undertake stable work from major companies due to the effects of Abenomics, and we also actively made capital investments using national subsidies for small and medium-sized enterprises.
Over the last seven years, we've been doing well, and we've raised employee salaries.
However, he says that the life of employees has not improved.
The fact that the increase in salary is not keeping up with the increased burden of social insurance premiums and the increase in consumption tax has not led to a substantial increase in wages.
A 42-year-old male employee said, “Salary is certainly going up, but the burden is also increasing accordingly. There are also a lot of spending on children, and eventually, when I got a job I don't feel."
Since the beginning of this year, the future of the company is uncertain due to the influence of the new coronavirus.
President Fujimoto says, ``Employees are indispensable to the company and want to improve their lives, but the future is uncertain and difficult. Increasing social insurance premiums is a burden to the company, but management cannot do anything I'm always worried about what to do because of the problem."