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November 30, 2021JAPAN LABOUR FORCE SURVEY, OCTOBER 2021 
In October 2021, Japan's seasonally adjusted unemployment edged down to 2.7%. Employment was down 0.4% and labour force contracted by 0.5% compared to September 2021.
The impacts of COVID-19 are apparent in Japan's labour market, where unemployment rates remain higher than in the 2 years prior to the pandemic. However, the magnitude of Japan's labour market shock from COVID-19 appears to be more moderate than observed in other advanced economies. However, in recent months, Japan has experienced labour market contractions while Canada's labour force and employment have grown.
Compared to February 2020, Japan's labour force in September 2021 was down 1.6% while employment was down 1.8%. From February 2020 to October 2021, Canada's labour force was up by 1.2% while employment has returned to pre-pandemic levels (+0.2%). Canada's unemployment rate increased from 5.7% in February 2020 to 6.7% in October 2021. Nova Scotia's October 2021 labour force was up 0.2% and employment was almost the same as in February 2020. Nova Scotia’s unemployment rate was 8.0% in February 2020 and 8.3% in October 2021.
Sources:
Statistics Bureau of Japan. Table: a-1 (Seasonally adjusted) Major items (Labour force, Employed person, Employee, Unemployed person, Not in labour force, Unemployment rate (since Jan.1953)
Statistics Canada. Table 14-10-0287-01 Labour force characteristics, monthly, seasonally adjusted and trend-cycle
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