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East Asia and Pacific

Graduate jobs and salaries in Japan

Updated Data years: 2020 How we use data

Older data (2020) The latest official figure is from 2020. It may not reflect today's labour market.

Quick answer

Their unemployment rate was 2.4%, against 2.7% for all adults aged 25 and over (2020).

Sources: ILOSTAT (ILO)

Are graduates less likely to be unemployed in Japan?

Unemployment rate by education level, 2020
Education levelAdults 25+Young people 15–24
Intermediate education2.9%7.3%
Advanced (tertiary) education2.4%3.9%
All levels2.7%6.7%

Unemployment among tertiary-educated adults is the 22 lowest of 130 countries with data. The East Asia and Pacific median is 2.3%.

Unemployment over time, adults 25+

Advanced (tertiary) educationAll levels
0.01.83.5 201520162017201820192020

Studying and working in Japan

Rules on student visas, work after graduation and recognition of qualifications change often. Use the official sources below and check the date on any advice you read.

Guide: how to choose a country to study in · Guide: getting your degree recognised abroad

Country context

Population
123.4M (2025)
GDP per person (PPP)
$55,422 (2025)
Tertiary enrolment (gross)
64.5% (2023)

Questions about graduate jobs in Japan

What is the unemployment rate for graduates in Japan?

In 2020, the unemployment rate for adults aged 25 and over with tertiary education in Japan was 2.4%, compared with 2.7% for all adults. Among young people aged 15–24 with tertiary education it was 3.9%.

Where can I find official information about studying in Japan?

Start with the official study portal and immigration pages linked on this page. They set out entry requirements, student visas and any rights to work after graduating, which change more often than most guides are updated.

Compare with other countries in East Asia and Pacific

Compare Japan side by side

  • Philippines

    +54%
    more for tertiary-educated employees (2024)

    East Asia and Pacific

  • Vietnam

    +25%
    more for tertiary-educated employees (2024)

    East Asia and Pacific

  • Thailand

    +74%
    more for tertiary-educated employees (2025)

    East Asia and Pacific

  • Myanmar

    -16%
    more for tertiary-educated employees (2020)

    East Asia and Pacific

  • Indonesia

    +60%
    more for tertiary-educated employees (2023)

    East Asia and Pacific

  • South Korea

    2.6%
    unemployment, tertiary-educated adults (2025)

    East Asia and Pacific

Sources

  1. ILOSTAT — Unemployment rate by age and education — LFS - Labour Force Survey, 2020
  2. World Bank — World Development Indicators — Population, GDP per person (PPP) and tertiary enrolment

How to cite this page: CourseToJob (2026). Japan: graduate salaries, jobs and unemployment. https://coursetojob.com/countries/japan/ (accessed September 26, 2026)

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Notes from the data source
  • Employment definition: Excluding own-use production workers