Workers at 5,368 companies affiliated with Rengo have secured an average wage increase of 5.01%, according to the group’s final tally released Friday. | BLOOMBERG
Jul 3, 2026
Japan’s annual wage negotiations concluded with average pay gains topping 5% for a third year, underscoring the economy’s resilience and reinforcing the Bank of Japan’s stance to keep raising interest rates.
Workers at 5,368 companies affiliated with Rengo, the country’s largest labor union group, secured an average wage increase of 5.01%, according to the group’s final tally released Friday. While the figure came in lower than last year’s 5.25%, it met Rengo’s 5% target for a third straight year.
Rengo represents roughly 7 million workers, or about 10% of Japan’s labor force. The group released its first tabulation of results in March and has updated the figure several times after gathering data from a widening pool of companies. Typically the result slips with each update, as more smaller companies report.
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