Japan's largest trade union's first-round wage increase exceeded 5% for two consecutive years, but fell short of previous demands.

Jinshi data March 14 news, the Japan’s largest trade union labor union federation: the first round of data shows that the average wage growth for the 2025 fiscal year is 5.46%, which is the second consecutive year that the union’s first round of wage growth has exceeded 5%. Earlier, the union announced that its member unions requested an average salary increase of 6.09% this year, higher than last year’s 5.85%, the first time in more than thirty years that they sought a salary increase of over 6%. In particular, the union representing small business workers proposed a 6.57% salary increase, higher than last year’s 5.97%. Organizations such as the metal industry union also proposed a salary increase target of 14149 yen/month, reaching a new high since 2014.