A Japanese labor ministry survey has shown that a record high percentage of companies said they have raised or will raise wages this year. The government began compiling the nationwide data in 1999.
The ministry says 91.2 percent of respondents plan to hike wages or have already done so. The figure is up 2.1 percentage points from last year, marking the third straight year-on-year increase.
The annual survey asks companies with 100 or more employees about their salary plans. The ministry received responses from about 1,780 companies, around half the number questioned.
The average monthly wage increase per person rose 4.1 percent to 11,961 yen, or about 78 dollars. The amount and percentage were both the highest since 1999.
Labor ministry officials say that more companies are raising pay due to the impact of the annual spring wage negotiations. They say the involvement of labor unions can make a differences in companies’ decisions. The ministry plans to monitor how long the trend will continue.