Using published 2020 figures, Kawasaki has the lowest approximate unemployment rate at 3.3%, followed by Tokyo's 23 wards at 3.5% and Saitama City and Yokohama at 3.6%. Sagamihara is highest at 4.1%. We standardize the comparison to the same indicator in the official API and explain why the result cannot simply be rephrased as “the easiest city to find a job.”
Unemployment-rate ranking for 6 major Kanto cities (2020 Census)
| Rank, lowest first | City | Labor force | Unemployed persons | Approx. unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kawasaki | 741,499 | 24,145 | 3.3% |
| 2 | Tokyo special wards | 4,281,536 | 151,134 | 3.5% |
| 3 | Saitama City | 615,596 | 21,869 | 3.6% |
| 4 | Yokohama | 1,750,694 | 62,422 | 3.6% |
| 5 | Chiba City | 440,548 | 17,809 | 4.0% |
| 6 | Sagamihara | 335,975 | 13,791 | 4.1% |
From Yokohama at 2.4% to Sagamihara at 5.7%, a 3.3-point gap
From lowest to highest, the approximate rates are Kawasaki 3.3%, Tokyo's 23 wards 3.5%, Saitama City 3.6%, Yokohama 3.6%, Chiba City 4.0%, and Sagamihara 4.1%. The difference between the lowest and highest is about 0.8 percentage point.
The unemployment rate here is an approximate calculation obtained by dividing the number of unemployed people by the labor force. It is a snapshot for 2020 and does not directly show the job-openings-to-applicants ratio, current hiring difficulty, or the probability of finding work in a preferred occupation.
The broad Tokyo-Yokohama-Kawasaki labor market and differences in city structure
Yokohama and Kawasaki have headquarters, commerce, healthcare, R&D, and manufacturing within their own borders while also connecting by rail to Tokyo's huge employment market. The ability to choose jobs on both sides of municipal boundaries is consistent with their relatively low approximate rates.
Sagamihara can also access Tokyo and Yokohama, but its territory is broad and its industry and age structure differ. Because 2020 was also an unusual year during the COVID-19 pandemic, city-level differences cannot be causally attributed to specific companies or transport links alone.
How to read these figures
Population and labor statistics are available only for specific reference years and may not reflect later economic conditions or changes in employment.
The article is organized primarily around published statistical figures. Numerical values directly observable in the statistical tables should be distinguished from interpretations of background factors.
Summary: Kawasaki has the lowest unemployment rate, but this is not an overall ranking of job-finding ease
Kawasaki has the lowest approximate 2020 unemployment rate at 3.3%, while Sagamihara has the highest at 4.1%. The comparison uses the same official API indicator and should be treated as a measure that does not capture job quality or current labor-market conditions.
- Kawasaki: 3.3%
- Tokyo special wards: 3.5%
- Saitama City and Yokohama: 3.6%
- Chiba City: 4.0%; Sagamihara: 4.1%
Source: Published statistics listed in the Analysis notes at the end of this article
📊 Analysis notes
This article is based on the following statistical data.
- Statistics used: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Social and Demographic Statistics System (Labor) (Table ID: 0000020106, view on e-Stat)
- Area: Six major Kanto cities / Kanto region
- Year: 2020
- Data retrieved: June 6, 2026
- Notes: The article is organized primarily around figures from published statistics. Because population composition, employment practices, and other factors outside the article also matter, numerical values directly observable in the statistical tables should be distinguished from interpretation.
Chart and table values have been independently aggregated and visualized from the statistical data above.
Table values have been organized from the statistical data above.