In brief
Japanese real wages climbed 2.2% in September, marking the ninth consecutive month of growth, while nominal wages rose 4.6 %. The rise reflects successful spring labour negotiations and a slowdown in inflation, according to preliminary figures released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.
Japan’s inflation‑adjusted real wages increased 2.2 percent in September from a year earlier, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare said on Friday, giving the country a nine‑month streak of growth.
The figure comes from preliminary data covering businesses with five or more employees, the ministry added. It reflects pay gains secured in this year’s spring labour negotiations and a slower pace of inflation.
Nominal wages, measured by total cash earnings including base pay, overtime and special payments, rose 4.6 percent to an average of 311,409 yen (about 1,973 U.S. dollars) per worker.
Consumer price index used to calculate real wages climbed 2.4 percent in September, compared with 3.4 percent a year earlier.
The rise follows a 12‑month stretch of declining real wages from January to December 2025, the ministry noted.
