As for the employment situation, overtime hours worked and new job offers are on a gradual rising trend. In addition, the number of employees, which covers various types of employees including non-regular employees such as temporary workers, appears to have gradually stopped declining.
However, firms are still maintaining their stance on reducing personnel expenses, and household income continues to decrease significantly due to, among other factors, an ongoing decline in wages. Thus, the employment and income situation of households overall remains severe.