Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare published an annual report on karoshi and other overtime related illnesses in June. The overall trend has stayed the same; the number of workers applying for workers injury compensation after suffering from mental illnesses has continued to increase while the number of workers recognized by the government that their illnesses were indeed work-related and receiving compensation has continued to decrease both in the number of cases and in percentages. 

Here is a summary of the numbers for the past five years. Note that a fiscal year in Japan begins in April and ends in March. 

Overall, the number of workers applying for compensation increased from 2835 in 2020 to 3099 in 2021. However, the government only approved 801 cases as work related with an approval rate of 26%, down from 28% in 2020. 

Let us first look at cases involving brain and/or heart illnesses. In terms of demographics, workers in their 50s had the highest share among approved cases with 39% (67 cases), followed by 40s with 32% (55 cases) and workers in their 60s (21%, 36 cases). There were just 5 cases involving workers in their 20s and just 9 for ages 30-39. We can see that naturally brain and/or heart illness cases involve middle aged workers. 

In terms of employment status, 89 percent (153 cases) were workers on permanent contracts, followed by those on temporary, fixed-term contracts (5%, 8 cases), dispatched workers (1%, 2 cases) and part-time workers (1%, 2 cases). 

Among all industries, transportation had the highest share with 34% (59 cases) followed by manufacturing (13%, 23 cases) and wholesale/retail with 13% (22 cases).  

If we look at mental illness cases, we can see that although workers in their 40s have the highest share among all approved cases with 32% (200 cases), young workers in their 20s and 30s are more likely to suffer from various mental diseases than from brain and/or heart illnesses. Ages 20-29 is second with 24% (153 cases), followed by those in their 30s (23%, 145 cases). 

In terms of employment status, workers on open-ended permanent contracts are the most affected with 83% (521 cases) but is followed by parttime workers with 10% (62 cases) and temporary contract workers 4% (24 cases). We can see that mental issues are prevalent not only among full time, permanent workers but also among workers on temporary contracts which is understandable as mental illnesses can be caused by various workplace issues such as workplace harassment and not necessarily limited to overwork. 

Among all industries, welfare has the highest share of workers suffering from mental illness with 23% (142 cases) , followed by manufacturing (17%, 106 cases) and wholesale/retail (12%, 67 cases). 

The report also examines the main cause for each approved mental illness case. Harassment including physical and mental bullying from bosses was the biggest cause with 20% (125 cases) among all mental illness approved cases. It is followed by change in workload with 11% (71 cases) and experiencing or witnessing tragic incidents with 10% (66 cases).