Summer bonuses average record ¥1.04 million among major Japan firms
Large companies in Japan have seen five consecutive years of bonus growth.
The average summer bonus among Japan's major corporations surged 7.04% to reach ¥1,042,537 in 2026, according to the Japan Business Federation. This represents the highest average since records began in 1981 and marks the fifth year of consecutive growth in bonuses. The labor policy head of Keidanren attributed the upward trend to widespread wage increases.
In the construction sector, which has been grappling with severe labor shortages, the average bonus jumped an impressive 59.59%, hitting ¥2,026,633 and surpassing the ¥2 million threshold for the first time in any industry. Among the 22 sectors surveyed, 17 saw an increase in average summer bonuses. The manufacturing sector, comprising 126 firms, experienced a 6.23% rise to an all-time record of ¥1,093,629, while non-manufacturing companies recorded an 8.96% increase to ¥941,145.
The nonferrous metals industry stood out with a 21.64% boost to ¥1,125,131, driven by robust demand for data centers. Conversely, the machinery and metal industry saw a 5.49% decline, bringing the average bonus down to ¥1,163,829.
Written by urgent.news from Japan Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
