日本春季劳资谈判加薪率平均5.25%，持续性堪忧

Core Viewpoint - The average wage increase rate in Japan for 2025 is 5.25%, marking a significant rise from previous years, but small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) lag behind with an increase of only 4.65%, failing to meet the target of over 6% [1][2]. Group 1: Wage Increase Trends - The wage increase rate has risen from 3.58% in 2023 to over 5% in 2024 and 2025, largely influenced by persistent inflation following the Ukraine crisis [2]. - The average increase in base salary among 3,594 labor unions is 3.7%, the highest level since 2015, reflecting a positive trend in wage negotiations [1][2]. Group 2: Impact on SMEs - SMEs employ about 70% of Japan's workforce, but many are struggling to increase wages, which could hinder stable growth in real wages [1][2]. - The wage increase rate gap between SMEs with fewer than 300 members and large enterprises is 0.68 percentage points, indicating a significant disparity in wage growth potential [2][3]. Group 3: Economic Context and Future Outlook - Real wages in Japan have been declining, with a reported decrease of 2.0% in April, marking four consecutive months of negative growth [2]. - The labor distribution rate for SMEs is 70.21%, while for larger companies it is 36.81%, suggesting that SMEs are under pressure to maintain wage increases without corresponding improvements in performance [3]. - Concerns exist regarding the sustainability of wage increases, especially if the economy slows down, which could weaken the momentum for wage negotiations in 2026 [3].