In 2021, close to *** million people were working in small to medium-sized business enterprises (SMEs) operating in the manufacturing industry in Japan. That year, there were a total of around **** million workers in SMEs in the country.
including companies and solo proprietorships in non-primary industry; excluding corporate bodies other than companies
Supplementary notes
*Mining and quarrying of stone and gravel, compound services, and services not elsewhere classified such as waste disposal businesses, automobile maintenance services, employment and working dispatching services, political, business, and cultural organizations, etc.
Definition of SMEs by industry:
Manufacturing, construction, and transportation, as well as other industries not mentioned below: companies whose capital does not exceed 300 million JPY, or a company or an individual whose regular workforce does not exceed 300 people.
Wholesale trade: companies whose capital does not exceed 100 million JPY, or a company or an individual whose regular workforce does not exceed 100 people.
Service: companies whose capital does not exceed 50 million JPY, or a company or an individual whose regular workforce does not exceed 100 people.
Retail trade: companies whose capital does not exceed 50 million JPY, or a company or an individual whose regular workforce does not exceed 50 people.
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The Small and Medium Enterprise Agency. (April 24, 2025). Number of people working at private small and medium-sized business enterprises (SMEs) operating in Japan in 2021, by industry (in 1,000s) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved July 12, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1338231/japan-number-workers-private-small-and-medium-sized-enterprises-by-industry/
The Small and Medium Enterprise Agency. "Number of people working at private small and medium-sized business enterprises (SMEs) operating in Japan in 2021, by industry (in 1,000s)." Chart. April 24, 2025. Statista. Accessed July 12, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1338231/japan-number-workers-private-small-and-medium-sized-enterprises-by-industry/
The Small and Medium Enterprise Agency. (2025). Number of people working at private small and medium-sized business enterprises (SMEs) operating in Japan in 2021, by industry (in 1,000s). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: July 12, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1338231/japan-number-workers-private-small-and-medium-sized-enterprises-by-industry/
The Small and Medium Enterprise Agency. "Number of People Working at Private Small and Medium-sized Business Enterprises (Smes) Operating in Japan in 2021, by Industry (in 1,000s)." Statista, Statista Inc., 24 Apr 2025, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1338231/japan-number-workers-private-small-and-medium-sized-enterprises-by-industry/
The Small and Medium Enterprise Agency, Number of people working at private small and medium-sized business enterprises (SMEs) operating in Japan in 2021, by industry (in 1,000s) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1338231/japan-number-workers-private-small-and-medium-sized-enterprises-by-industry/ (last visited July 12, 2025)
Number of people working at private small and medium-sized business enterprises (SMEs) operating in Japan in 2021, by industry (in 1,000s) [Graph], The Small and Medium Enterprise Agency, April 24, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1338231/japan-number-workers-private-small-and-medium-sized-enterprises-by-industry/
