The number of people employed in March increased by 206,000 from a year earlier. The overall employment rate was the highest since the data series began, but the youth employment rate fell and the unemployment rate rose. Youth unemployment was the highest for March in five years since the COVID-19 outbreak.
According to the Employment Trends in March 2026 released on the 15th by the Ministry of Data and Statistics (MODS), the total number of people employed last month was 28,795,000, up 206,000 from the same month a year earlier. Following February (234,000), the increase in the number of people employed remained in the 200,000 range for a second straight month, but the pace of increase slowed.
The employment rate among those ages 15 to 64 (OECD comparison basis) was 69.7%, up 0.4 percentage point (p) from a year earlier. This is the highest March level since related statistics began in 1989.
The unemployment rate was 3%, down 0.1 percentage point (p). It was the second-lowest level since related statistics began in June 1999.
However, labor market conditions for young people (ages 15 to 29) are weak. The youth employment rate fell 0.9 percentage point to 43.6%, and the youth unemployment rate rose 0.1 percentage point to 7.6%. The youth employment rate has declined for 23 straight months. The youth unemployment rate was the highest for March in five years since March 2021 (10%).
An official at the data agency said, "As the declines in employment in accommodation and food service, information and communications, and manufacturing are large, the number of young people employed in those sectors, where many youths work, also decreased."
By industry, increases in health and social welfare services (294,000), transportation and warehousing (75,000), and arts, sports and recreation-related services (44,000) led the overall rise in employment. In contrast, public administration, defense and social security administration (-77,000), professional, scientific and technical services (-61,000), and agriculture, forestry and fishing (-58,000) decreased.
Manufacturing and construction remained sluggish. The number of people employed in manufacturing (-42,000) and construction (-16,000) fell for 21 and 23 consecutive months, respectively. Wholesale and retail trade (-18,000) turned negative for the first time in 11 months since April last year. An official at the data agency said it was "due to changes in industrial structure such as online, unmanned and automation."
The economically inactive population was 16,271,000, up 69,000 from a year earlier. By activity status, it decreased for child care (-83,000), but increased for attending school or taking courses (66,000) and old age (58,000).
The number of people who said they were "taking a break" increased by 31,000. It decreased among young people (-53,000), but increased among those 60 and older (96,000) and those in their 40s (5,000). The number of jobseekers preparing for employment and those discouraged from seeking work decreased.