CSRDA Discussion Paper Series

No. 15 Describing the impacts of COVID-19 on the labor market in Japan until June 2020
Taiyo Fukai, Hidehiko Ichimura, Keisuke Kawata
Taiyo Fukai, Hidehiko Ichimura, Keisuke Kawata
COVID-19EmploymentHeterogeneity
Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic GrowthGoal 10: Reduced Inequalities

This paper describes the dynamics of employment status during and after the COVID-19 outbreak in Japan. COVID-19 and the associated infection control policies restrict our behavior and affect both labor demand and labor supply. This paper uses largescale government statistics (from the Labor Force Survey) for analysis. The sample size allows us to use a flexible data-driven approach to discover the heterogeneous impacts of respondents’ background characteristics. We find that the effects of COVID-19 are concentrated in some respondents. In May and June, the employment rate of the lower five percent of workers is decreased. A wider range of workers is affected in April. The employment rate of the lower 30 percent of workers is decreased. About workers’ characteristics, COVID-19 affects workers who are unemployed or work besides study and part-time in the hotel and restaurant industry and/or service occupations.