Japan reports first rise in births in 11 years and lower unemployment

Japan has recorded its first increase in births during the first half of the year in eleven years. Preliminary data from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare shows 342,068 births between January and June, a 0.8% increase compared to the 339,280 recorded during the same period last year.

This rise follows a decade of continuous declines, including a record low in 2025. The demographic shift remains a critical concern for the nation due to a shrinking workforce and labor shortages in sectors such as healthcare.

Simultaneously, Japan's unemployment rate fell to 2.4% in July, the lowest level in one year. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, the number of unemployed individuals dropped to 1.69 million, a decrease of 80,000 from the previous month. While the personal services and leisure sectors saw job growth, the wholesale and retail sectors experienced a decline in workers.