Japan Work-Related Deaths Up for 1st Time in 3 Years in 2017

May 31, 2018

Tokyo- The number of work-related deaths recognized in Japan in 2017 rose 5.4 pct from the previous year to 978, up for the first time in three years, the labor ministry said Wednesday.

The result reflected an increase in accidents in the construction and transport sectors.

The 2017 total was down 10.5 pct from 2012, missing the government's target of reducing the fatalities number by at least 15 pct over the five years.

The construction industry registered 323 deaths, up 9.9 pct, and the transport sector logged 137 deaths, up 38.4 pct. Both sectors face labor shortages.

Meanwhile, the manufacturing industry saw the number of work-related deaths fall 9.6 pct to 160.

The number of people who died or suffered injuries related to work increased 2.2 pct to 120,460 in 2017, up for the second straight year.

The 2017 number was 0.7 pct above the 2012 level, while the government's target called for a decline of at least 15 pct. Jiji Press