[Research Report] Spot Work Job-Opening-to-Applicant Ratio is 4.16x, Average Hourly Wage is 1,239 Yen

Tsuna-ken Work Style Research Institute (Location: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Director: Hiroshi Ohno), an organization for research on diverse work styles, founded by Tsunagu Group Holdings Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and Executive Officer President: Mitsuhiro Yoneda), which provides RPO (Recruitment Process Outsourcing) and recruitment consulting, publishes a monthly "Spot Work Market Data Report" that continuously monitors the "short-term, single-task spot worker market," which has been expanding in recent years.

This report summarizes the latest data for January 2026.

■1: Spot work job-opening-to-applicant ratio is 4.16 times, an increase of 1.76 points from the same month last year.

The spot work job-opening-to-applicant ratio for January 2026 was 4.16 times. After the busy season in December, which included year-end events, the number of job openings decreased by 60.6% compared to the previous month, and the job-opening-to-applicant ratio decreased by 5.09 points from the previous month. On the other hand, it increased by 1.76 points from the same month last year.

■2: The growth rate of work volume significantly decreased from the previous month, but light labor and transportation exceeded the previous year's same month.

The growth rate of work volume for January 2026 decreased by 60.6% compared to the previous month and by 8.6% compared to the same month last year. By job category, "warehouse/light labor" decreased by 83.0% from the previous month, "convenience store staff" by 13.2%, and "transportation/driver" by 2.9%, with the decrease in warehouse/light labor being particularly significant.

However, compared to the same month last year, while the overall decrease was 8.6%, "warehouse/light labor" increased by 32.7% and "transportation/driver" by 22.4%, showing growth exceeding the previous year in some job categories.

■3: The average hourly wage for spot work is 1,239 yen, 78 yen lower than the average hourly wage for regular part-time jobs.

The average hourly wage for spot work in January 2026 was 1,239 yen, a decrease of 87 yen from the previous month and an increase of 9 yen from the same month last year. The average hourly wage for regular part-time jobs was 1,317 yen (according to Recruit's "Survey of Average Hourly Wages for Part-time Job Openings"), indicating that regular part-time jobs paid 78 yen more than spot work.

(Source)

Single-task job posting site "Shotworks" data from January 2022 to January 2026

Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Statistics Bureau "Labor Force Survey (Detailed Tabulation) October-December 2025 (Reiwa 7) Average"

Recruit "Survey of Average Hourly Wages for Part-time Job Openings"

*Notice of aggregation change

From December 2025, the aggregation target has been changed as follows.

Please note that there will be differences from the figures in surveys up to November 2025.

・Up to March 2025: Job information posted on "Shotworks"

・From April 2025 onwards: Job information entered into "Shotworks" and "Shotworks Convenience"

■What is the Spot Work Market Data Report?

・Definition of the Spot Work Market

Spot work refers to working for short periods and on a single-task basis, without a "continuous employment relationship." Among these, it is classified into two types: "gig work" which does not involve an employment contract (Uber Eats delivery drivers are a typical example of gig work), and "single-task part-time jobs" which involve short-term employment contracts. The market for individuals working in these styles and companies utilizing them is the spot work market.

・Current Market Situation

Spot workers rapidly increased with the COVID-19 pandemic as a catalyst and are expected to spread further in the future.

Individuals) Increased desire for additional work due to overtime regulations from work style reforms, and reduced work hours or休業 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Companies) Growing demand for optimized labor costs, meaning deploying the necessary number of people at the necessary time, from the perspective of productivity improvement, eliminating waste and unevenness.

Technology) Entry of spot work job providers offering timely and on-demand matching.

・Significance of Continuous Observation

The Statistics Bureau of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications introduced the ILO-standard "Unutilized Labor Indicators" from 2018. For example, "workers wishing for additional work" within these indicators are laborers sometimes referred to as "broadly defined unemployed." Working spot jobs in addition to current employment leads to stable income for workers, which in turn improves the broadly defined unemployment rate. On a macro level, utilizing potential labor contributes to national strength. From the perspective of connecting with such social significance, this report continuously observes this market and disseminates data reports that visualize market size trends, useful topics, and inherent challenges.

■What is Tsuna-ken Work Style Research Institute?

Established in 2015, Tsuna-ken Work Style Research Institute (Director: Hiroshi Ohno) is a research institution for diverse work styles, founded by Tsunagu Group Holdings Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and Executive Officer President: Mitsuhiro Yoneda). The institute, together with experts active in corporate human resources and labor law fields, explains the key points and perspectives of enacted labor laws, and also records and analyzes the process and background leading to revisions, proposing the "ideal state." As a research and study institution for all labor laws surrounding "work," it pioneers the "future of employment."

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