In the preliminary August results of the Monthly Labour Survey released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) on October 7, 2026 (Reiwa 8), total cash earnings for all employment types at establishments with five or more employees were JPY 311,364, up 3.8% from a year earlier. Total cash earnings deflated by the consumer price index (all items excluding imputed rent) rose 1.5%, the eighth consecutive month of increase.In a government survey of companies, the average pay per worker in August was about JPY 311,000, up 3.8% from a year ago. But prices have risen too, so when we compare what the money can actually buy (the "real" figure), the increase was 1.5%.
Year-on-year change in August (5 or more employees, all employment types)
Total cash earnings3.8%
Scheduled cash earnings3.9%
Contractual earnings3.8%
Real wages (excl. imputed rent)1.5%
Pay growth versus price growth (August)
Pay growth (nominal)
3.8%
Price rise (excluding imputed rent for owned homes)
On October 7, 2026 (Reiwa 8), Kitakyushu City announced that it signed a real estate sales contract for the former JR Kyushu headquarters building in the Mojiko Retro district with the joint venture that held preferential negotiation rights. The total price is JPY 93,065,263 including tax, and the plan is to renovate the building and use it as a hotel. Payment of the price and transfer of ownership are scheduled for early November 2026.In the Mojiko Retro district there is an old building with history that used to be the headquarters of JR Kyushu. Kitakyushu City signed a sales contract for this building. The plan is to fix up the building and use it as a hotel.
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