"Another Pay Raise This Time"... Why 'These Part-Time Jobs' Are Now More Attractive Than Professional Roles in Japan

Hourly Wages for On-Site Roles Soar Amid Labor Shortages
Professional, Education, and Office Sectors See Decline in Pay

In Japan, the average hourly wage for part-time jobs is rising to a level that far exceeds the statutory minimum wage. This trend is mainly attributed to companies raising wages to secure workers, especially in occupations that are difficult for artificial intelligence (AI) to replace.

Photo is unrelated to specific content of the article. TASS Yonhap News

Sharp Increase in Wages for On-Site Part-Time Workers, as AI Struggles to Replace Them and Labor Shortages Drive Up Hourly Pay

On the 15th, Nikkei reported, citing the Japanese job information provider "Dip," that the nationwide average hourly wage for part-time jobs in Japan last month was 1,350 yen (approximately 11,800 won). This represents a rise of 17 yen (1.3%) from the same month last year, marking the eleventh consecutive month of increases.

This is more than 20% higher than Japan’s nationwide statutory minimum wage, which averages 1,121 yen (about 9,800 won). As companies find it increasingly difficult to secure necessary workers at minimum wage levels, more employers are offering higher hourly pay than the minimum required by law.

Notably, the wage gap by occupation is pronounced. The more the work requires someone to be physically present on-site, the steeper the increase in hourly wages.

The average hourly wage for construction jobs was 1,570 yen (around 13,800 won), up 179 yen from a year ago—the largest increase among all sectors. This is about 16% higher than the nationwide average. Jobs related to transport, cleaning, and packaging also rose by 165 yen, reaching 1,402 yen (about 12,330 won). Manufacturing and skilled trades saw an increase of 127 yen to 1,451 yen (around 12,800 won).

This trend has continued throughout this year. Data published by Dip in May showed that the average hourly wage for transportation, cleaning, and packaging jobs in May was 1,426 yen, up 211 yen from the same month last year. Manufacturing and skilled trades increased by 344 yen to 1,539 yen, and construction jobs rose by 152 yen to 1,543 yen over the same period.

By region, the Kanto region (including Tokyo) had the highest average hourly wage at 1,421 yen (about 12,430 won). Kyushu (including Fukuoka) followed at 1,334 yen (about 11,660 won), with Kansai (including Osaka and Kyoto) close behind at 1,326 yen (about 11,600 won).

The survey was based on approximately 396,000 job postings listed on "Baitoru," a part-time job recruitment website operated by Dip.

The photo is not related to the specific content of the article. Pixabay

Hourly Wages for Professional Part-Time Roles Decline... Trends Vary by Occupation

In contrast, a different trend emerged in job categories where digital transformation and AI adoption are relatively easy.

Last month, the average hourly wage for professional positions was 1,593 yen. While still higher in absolute terms than on-site jobs, this figure was 188 yen lower than the same month last year. The education sector also fell by 122 yen to 1,577 yen, and office jobs dropped by 77 yen to 1,331 yen.

Recruitment demand itself remained at a high level. According to statistics released by Dip in April for the month of March, the nationwide average hourly wage was 1,349 yen, 37 yen higher than a year earlier, and the number of job postings rose 10.7% to around 417,000 positions. In April, the average hourly wage increased by 79 yen year-on-year to 1,370 yen, and the number of job postings also climbed 14.0% to approximately 422,000 positions.

Nikkei analyzed that in lines of work that can be replaced by AI, wage growth may be slower. Even amid Japan’s severe labor shortages, not all part-time wages are rising equally; instead, the fastest wage growth is seen in jobs that require people to be physically present and involved.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.