This document presents the results of the FY2025 Wage Revision Status Survey conducted by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, providing detailed analysis of wage revision status and wage increase rates in private establishments with fewer than 30 employees.
The survey was conducted targeting 16,486 establishments nationwide, receiving responses from 4,980 establishments (response rate 30.2%). Survey targets included seven industries: manufacturing; wholesale and retail trade; scientific research, professional and technical services; accommodation and food services; living-related services and amusement; medical and welfare; and other services. Establishment sizes were categorized as 1-9 employees and 10-29 employees. The total number of workers covered was 31,297, of which 25,932 (82.9%) were employed at both June 2024 and June 2025.
Wage Revision Implementation Status
Looking at wage revision implementation status from January to June 2025, 49.2% of establishments implemented wage increases across all industries, while 0.8% implemented wage decreases. By regional rank, 50.3% of establishments in Rank A (Saitama, Chiba, Tokyo, Kanagawa, Aichi, Osaka), 48.8% in Rank B, and 47.5% in Rank C implemented wage increases. By industry, medical and welfare showed the highest rate at 67.5%, followed by manufacturing at 54.2% and scientific research, professional and technical services at 54.1%.
Actual Wage Increase Rates
Hourly wages for regular and part-time workers increased 2.5% from 1,499 yen in June 2024 to 1,537 yen in June 2025 across all industries (compared to 2.3% increase in the same period last year). By gender, men's wages increased 1.8% from 1,699 yen to 1,729 yen, while women's wages increased 3.2% from 1,356 yen to 1,399 yen, with women's increase rate exceeding men's.
By regional rank, Rank A showed a 2.1% increase, Rank B 2.9%, and Rank C 3.0%, indicating higher increase rates in regions with lower minimum wages. By industry, medical and welfare showed the highest rate at 3.1%, followed by accommodation and food services at 3.0%, and other services at 2.9%.
Distribution of Wage Increase Rates
Among establishments that implemented wage increases, the median wage increase rate was 3.0% across all industries. The first quartile was 1.5% and the third quartile was 5.0%, indicating variation in increase rates among establishments. By industry, accommodation and food services showed the lowest median at 2.5%, while living-related services and amusement showed the highest at 3.8%.
The article demonstrates steady progress in wage revisions among small and micro enterprises, with particularly notable wage increases for female workers and in regions with lower minimum wage levels.