FX.co ★ Japan’s Job Market Tightens Slightly as Jobs-to-Applicants Ratio Edges Up in December

Japan’s labor market showed a modest tightening in December 2025, with the jobs-to-applications ratio inching up to 1.19 from 1.18 in November 2025. The latest figure means there were 119 job openings for every 100 job seekers, compared with 118 the previous month.

The incremental rise suggests demand for labor remains resilient, with employers still competing for a limited pool of workers. While the change is small, it reinforces the picture of a relatively firm job market heading into the end of 2025.

The data, updated on 29 January 2026, will be closely watched by investors and policymakers for clues on wage pressures and consumer spending, as a persistently tight labor market can influence both inflation dynamics and monetary policy expectations in Japan.