Major firms' summer bonuses hit record high of 1.04 million yen; construction tops 2 million yen for the first time
Macro
The Japan Business Federation, or Keidanren, released the final tally of average summer bonus settlements for large companies in 2026 on the 6th. The figure rose 7.04 percent from the previous year to 1,042,537 yen, marking the highest level since comparable data became available in 1981. This is the fifth consecutive year of increase. In the construction industry, which faces severe labor shortages, bonuses exceeded 2 million yen for the first time across all industries for both summer and winter. Many companies have raised base pay, which forms the basis for bonus calculations, and bonus increases have spread, particularly among firms with strong earnings. Keidanren's labor policy division analyzed that robust wage hikes are becoming more firmly established. The survey covers large companies with 500 or more employees in principle, and 17 of the 22 industries for which data could be compiled posted year-on-year gains.
