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Japan's Feb jobless rate flat at 2.4%; virus impact yet to appear in data

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"mainly due to an increase in the number of people who quit their jobs involuntarily"

you mean fired.

14 ( +15 / -1 )

But what about the quality of jobs and the wages and conditions? What Japan Inc. now does is to employ 5 people to do the job that just 1 used to do. Each is then paid at 1/5 of wages of that 1 person. These "parasite singles" are then forced to live with their parents (can't afford to become independent), commute long distances in packed trains each day, and to work from dawn to dusk sometimes 6 days a week.

Due to the financial stress they are under, many take second or even third jobs, and any little money they have left over is spent on material goods that they don't really need, it is this "consumerism" that keeps the economy going (barely).

In the end a lot of them reach their limit, and they become socially withdrawn, or even commit suicide.

Good job, Japan Inc.

12 ( +13 / -1 )

Can't trust government figures. Bueuracrats fudge numbers to shield politicians from actually doing their job. That being improving life for people rather than quashing all hope of ever having a moment to smile.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

Wow our economy is so great! We can shutdown for half year and no unemployment!! What a great leader Abe is, great job government keep it going!

6 ( +6 / -0 )

The unemployment figures in Japan are always fudged. An old dude holding a go-stick for two hours a day counts as "employed".

6 ( +6 / -0 )

These unemployment figures, whether fudged or not, will soon be practically meaningless thanks to the coronavirus pandemic. Two things are bound to happen. Either the pandemic will explode, killing thousands of people, or before that happens Abe will have the belated good sense to call for a national emergency.

This from today's Mainichi:

Calls grew Monday for Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to declare a state of emergency to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus before it is too late.

"I personally feel it's time (Japan) makes the declaration, and devises measures based on that," Satoshi Kamayachi, an executive board member of the Japan Medical Association also serving on a government expert panel on COVID-19, said at a press conference.

We will be entering a brave new world either way, but a nation-wide emergency will offer hope of survival or better if newly unemployed people are given emergency aid.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

I assume these exclude small business owners forced out of business by sudden and dramatic decline in customers.

In Feb?

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Obviously since these figures are from February, before the Coronavirus had much impact, they don't tell us much about what they are now or, more importantly, what they'll be like in a couple of months if there is a major outbreak.

That said, Japan might be a bit better positioned in this regard than the US or other countries where they are talking about incredibly high unemployment levels. The rate will definitely go way up if the country shuts down obviously, but the labor shortage is a real thing and includes a lot of essential services that would have to remain open even in a shutdown, so I think proportionately the unemployment rate here wouldn't be as bad as the US. Still bad though.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Great update

1 ( +1 / -0 )

It's the quiet before the storm of real numbers that can't be hidden because they are in the news EVERY night.

The Japanese government has failed the people of Japan in just about every way possible. They raised the consumption tax again when everyone and their dog knew it would stall the limping economy. Then the Olympics were made top priority over the CCP Virus hitting the world and Japan. Now with the Olympics postponed for a year, the Japanese government continues to send limp wristed messages with no real leadership as if they somehow hope that this whole mess will sort its self out. Did I miss anything?

5 ( +5 / -0 )

What should Japan do?

IMMEDIATELY start producing ventilators, masks, sanitizers, Wuhan virus test-kits, etc by the MILLIONS and sell them to countries that have started to reject Made-In-china test kits that have been found to be faulty.

Netherlands in the latest among several countries that have rejected china-nese masks and test kits because they are found to be faulty. Spain is one of the latest victims. They bought over $460 MILLION worth of medical equipment from china and found many of them to be faulty and substandard.

I dare say the world would rather trust Made In Japan medical equipment than cheap, faulty, substandard china-nese stuff.

And THAT'S how you create more jobs for Japanese.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

Problem is ventilation equipment is hand made in Japan and takes months to produce. From what I saw on TV there is just one producer in Japan and only 5 workers. There is no way they can supply enough.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

And THAT'S how you create more jobs for Japanese.

Or rather, that's how you create more hakken and ukeoi jobs. Poorly paid and with zero job security.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Or rather, that's how you create more hakken and ukeoi jobs. Poorly paid and with zero job security

In these times, that's better than no job and no pay.

Problem is ventilation equipment is hand made in Japan and takes months to produce. From what I saw on TV there is just one producer in Japan and only 5 workers. There is no way they can supply enough.

Wow, that's unreal. And sad.

But it's also a call to duty for unemployed people to start their own companies (at least with government assistance) to start making more medical equipment. Or a sign that companies now have a large pool of people that they can employ to start meeting the demands in medical equipment.

Japan has a wealth of resources that are being under-utilized. Abandoned or make-shift factories can be utilized, workers can be quickly re-trained to make specific equipment (eg ventilators)

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

I am not fired but i am on suspended work starting tomorrow and for how long? Nobody knows...

I never thought something like that would ever happen...

Take care everyone... this is a message from Narita Airport .. a ghost airport now.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Excuses are abudant but using Corona V as an excuses is the lowest of level if can be.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Two things are bound to happen. Either the pandemic will explode, killing thousands of people, or before that happens Abe will have the belated good sense to call for a national emergency.

Nothing like that is going to happen. This virus started in December now we have April. If it would be really strong a lot of people would already die, especially in Tokyo which had many Chinese tourists. I believe many of us already had it or have it. I know you guys like to follow that story about virus, pandemic etc. and mass media will feed your fears.

Anyway I believe Abe is right in this case. You have to think about how economic downturn of shutting down like US or Europe will affect future. Someone said that Corona virus will kill few which is bad but you will see what will happen after, when poverty, unemployment, economic depression will kill more than this flu like virus.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

@Wesley

Not sure why you voted down for you comment regarding upping the production of medical equipment to fight this virus.

The wave is coming and they will need it. Look at Italy, Spain, NYC, etc. They are suffering from a severe shortage.

If they ramped up production enough they could also export some. Of course,most of it will probably be for domestic consumption though.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Although this is a trying time, I feel that I am making some really long lasting relationships helping others with their difficulties.

I’ll be coming out of this stronger!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The Age of permanent employment is long gone in Japan. Most people, especially young ones, in Japan now work in temporary positions or low-paid long term positions. The recent figures only confirm a trend that has been happening since the collapse of the assets bubble. The Covid-19 Pandemic only puts salts on the economic wound of Japan furthermore.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

If there is one thing the coronavirus has taught me is not to trust any data provided by bureaucrats in this country.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

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