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Dissemination Standards Bulletin Board Special Data Dissemination Standard (AS PROVIDED TO THE IMF BY THE RESPECTIVE COUNTRY)   Japan Labor market: Unemployment (Labour Force Survey (Unemployment) ) Last Posted: Jan-19-2010 Last Certified: Jan-20-2010 Last Updated: Jan-19-2010 Contact Person(s)          Printer Friendly Page   Mr. Koji Kato, Director, Labor Force Statistics Office, Statistical Survey Department, Statistics Bureau, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), 19-1, Wakamatsu-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan 162-8668   Phone : 81 3 52731161   Fax : 81 3 52731184   Email : labor@stat.go.jp  Dissemination Formats Summary Methodology Access National Summary Data Page Cross-country comparisons: access the DSBB metadata query facility

The Data: Coverage, Periodicity, and Timeliness
Coverage characteristics	5.1.1 Statistical presentation Data are disseminated on the number of unemployed persons. "Unemployed persons" are defined as persons 15 years old and over who did not work at all during the survey week, but were currently available for work and were actively seeking a job or were waiting for the results of past job-seeking activity. Data are also disseminated on the number of unemployed persons broken down by age, preference for employment as primary or secondary activity, and the reason for seeking a job, and ratio of unemployed in the labour force by age and relationship to the head of the household. The data are presented in both a seasonally-adjusted and a non-seasonally adjusted format. The reference period to which the unemployment data refer is one week ending on the last day of each month, except December for which it is one week from 20 to 26.
Periodicity	4.1.1 Periodicity Monthly
Timeliness	4.1.2 Timeliness About one month after the end of the reference month.
Access by the Public
Advance dissemination of release calendar	5.1.3 Advance release calendar A schedule of precise dates of release for the following fiscal year is published by the beginning of March every year. Every issue of the Monthly Results on the Labour Force Survey carries this release schedule.
Simultaneous release to all interested parties	5.1.4 Simultaneous release The SBJ releases the data to the public, in principle, at 8:30 A.M. of the release day, and then holds a press conference. Immediately after the release, the SBJ distributes the data by means of a hardcopy summary report (Monthly Results, available in Japanese only) and on its Internet websites (http://www.stat.go.jp/data/roudou/index.htm) in Japanese and (http://www.stat.go.jp/english/data/roudou/index.htm) in English.
Integrity
Dissemination of terms and conditions under which official statistics are produced, including those relating to the confidentiality of individually identifiable information	0.1.1 Responsibility for collecting, processing, and disseminating statistics Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) executes and tabulates the Population Census and other fundamental statistical censuses and surveys in order to accomplish its responsibilities by the Law to Establish the MIC (July 16, 1999) . These census and surveys conducted by the Statistics Bureau of Japan (SBJ) are governed by the Statistics Act (Act no.53 of  2007). Labor market: Unemployment The Cabinet Order on the Organization of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) (Article 117) and the Regulation on the Organization of the MIC (Article 72) specify that the Statistics Bureau of Japan (SBJ) has the responsibility for the data execution and tabulation of the Labour Force Survey (LFS).   The LFS conducted by the SBJ is one of the Fundamental Statistics governed by the Statistics Act (May 23, 2007).   This Law prescribes the dissemination of the Fundamental Statistics (Article 8). 0.1.2 Data sharing and coordination among data producing agencies Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) The administrative organ or an incorporated administrative agency, etc. may utilize questionnaire information pertaining to statistical surveys they have conducted in the following cases: (i) When producing statistics or conducting statistical research (ii) When preparing lists of names to be used for surveys for producing statistics. 0.1.3 Confidentiality of individual reporters' data Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) The Statistics Act (Article 39, 40, 41 and 43) stipulates the confidentiality of statistics. The act also stipulates the penalty for offenders (Article 57,58,59,60,61 and 62). 0.1.4 Ensuring statistical reporting Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) The administrative organ may, when conducting a fundamental statistical survey, request individuals or juridical persons, or other organizations to report on matters necessary for producing fundamental statistics. (Statistics Act (Article 13)). 0.4.1 Quality policy Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) In the “Mission and action precept of the SBJ”, which is announced in April 2003, following points are shown; (i) To maintain the statistics which are useful to the society systematically, corresponding to the changes of socioeconomic situation, (ii) To pursue the neutral, objective, and accurate statistics based on definitive theories and technologies and (iii) To contribute to internal and external development of statistics by acquiring professional knowledge appropriate as a staff of the statistical agency playing a core part in Japan, with attention to the latest theories and technologies actively. The concepts are well known broadly to the whole organization.  The staffs have a chance to take various trainings. 1.1.1 Impartiality of statistics Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) It is an important role for the SBJ to provide accurate statistics. The SBJ does not make a political decision. Therefore, the published statistics data are not interfered by other governmental organizations. The SBJ puts high value on the specialties such as the data processing (or IT) and statistical techniques. The Statistical Research and Training Institute provide statistical training for the personnel of national and local governments regularly. And we always try to enhance the statistical techniques through internal workshops including external committee members (academic experts). 1.1.2 Selection of sources, methodology, and modes of dissemination The Statistics Law specifies that the details of the LFS including survey items, coverage, reference period (survey week), and methodology are prescribed by the regulation on the LFS. 1.2.1 Disclosure of terms and conditions for statistical collection, processing, and dissemination Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) The Tokei Roppo, a statute book concerning statistics, contains the law, order, and regulations. This book and copies of the Statistics Law are available in Japanese at: Government Publication Service Center, 2-1, 1-chome Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 100-0013, Japan. Phone: 81 3 3504 3885. Fax: 81 3 3504 3889. The Statistics Law is also reproduced on the SBJ internet website (http://www.stat.go.jp). 1.3.1 Guidelines for staff behavior Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) All officials attend the ethical training program as they start to work. As for statistics, confidentiality rules and disclosure penalties covering all statistical activities are covered in the Statistic Law. Especially, staffs who are involved in statistics must also get ethical training on statistics.
Identification of internal government access to data before release	1.2.2 Internal governmental access to statistics prior to release Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) In principle, no government officials except the engaged staff members of the SBJ have access to the data prior to release. Labor market: Unemployment Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications and Minister for Health, Labour and Welfare have access to the data in the afternoon one day before release day. The Prime Minister and Chief Cabinet Secretary have access to the data one hour before release time.
Identification of ministerial commentary on the occasion of statistical releases	1.2.3 Attribution of statistical products Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) Concerning statistical reports which the SBJ produces, the origin of the statistics is explicitly stated.
Provision of information about revision and advance notice of major changes in methodology	4.3.1 Revision schedule The non-seasonally adjusted data are final and are not subject to revision. The seasonally adjusted monthly data for the previous years are revised at the time that the data for January are released. 4.3.2 Identification of preliminary and/or revised data The non-seasonally adjusted data are final and are not subject to revision. 1.2.4 Advance notice of major changes in methodology, source data, and statistical techniques. As the methodology is prescribed by the regulation on the LFS, it is necessary to consult with the Statistics Council and to change the regulation in instances when changes are made to the methodology. A major change would be identified when the new data are released.
Quality
Dissemination of documentation on methodology and sources used in preparing statistics	5.2.1 Dissemination of documentation on concepts, scope, classifications, basis of recording, data sources, and statistical techniques The Monthly Report on the Labour Force Survey publishes information on the outline of the survey. The Annual Report on the Labour Force Survey and Annual Report on the Labour Force Survey (Detailed Tabulation) publish more detailed information such as sampling method, estimation method, sampling errors of estimates, and questionnaires, in addition to the outline. (See also summary methodology)
Dissemination of component detail, reconciliations with related data, and statistical frameworks that support statistical cross-checks and provide assurance of reasonableness	4.2.1 Internal consistency The Monthly Results (in Japanese only) publishes the following detailed data on unemployment for the latest month: Population of 15 years old or more by labour force status, employed person by industry, and unemployed person (the latest month) (Table 1); Population of 15 years old or more by labour force status (Table 2); Unemployed person by reason for seeking a job (Table 9); Unemployed person by relationship to the head of household (Table 10); Ratio of unemployed in labour force by relationship to the head of household (Table 11); Unemployed person by age (Table 14); Ratio of unemployed in labour force by age  (Table 17); Seasonally adjusted series of major items (Table 18);   The Annual Report on the Labour Force Survey publishes detailed annual unemployment data broken down by sex, age group, relationship to the head of household, as well as data at the same level of detail as in the monthly report tables referred to above. The annual report also publishes information on sample errors.   The Detailed Tabulation (that was released as "the Special Survey of the Labour Force Survey" in 2001 and before) publishes the following detailed data on unemployment quarterly: Summary Table:   Population of 15 years old or more by labour force status, employed persons, unemployed persons and persons not in labour force Unemployed persons by duration of unemployment (Table 7). Unemployed persons by age group (duration of unemployment 1 year or more) (Table 8). Unemployed persons by reason unable to take up a job, age group (Table 9). Unemployed persons by primary method used to seek a job (Table 10). Unemployed persons who quitted from jobs by reason left the previous job (Table 11). Unemployed persons who quitted from jobs by major industry of previous jobs (quitted from jobs in the past 1 year) (Table 12)   The Annual Report on the Labour Force Survey (Detailed Tabulation) publishes detailed annual employment data broken down by sex, age group, relationship to the head of household, industry, and status in employment, as well as data at the same level of detail as in the quarterly report tables referred to above. The annual report also publishes information on sample errors. The following SBJ Internet websites publish the monthly data for the latest month, quarterly data, and the annual data for the latest year with the same level of detail of the monthly and annual reports (http://www.stat.go.jp/data/roudou/index.htm) in Japanese, and (http://www.stat.go.jp/english/data/roudou/index.htm) in English.
Footnotes Last posted: Date IMF staff last posted an update to these metadata on the DSBB. Last certified: Date subscriber last officially certified the accuracy of these metadata. Last updated: Date subscriber last submitted an update of these metadata to the IMF.