During that period, 455,357 males and 225,012 females committed suicide in Japan, and the suicide rates by sex were 27.8 males and 13.3 females per 100,000 population (P < 0.05). The annual suicide rates among males correlated significantly with the annual unemployment rates: r(27) = 0.94, P < 0.001, while the female suicide rates did not correlate with the unemployment rates: r(27) = 0.39, P = 0.05. Thus, when unemployed men are observed to be depressed, it is important for those close to them, as well as their health care professionals, to pay careful attention to their behavior to detect suicidal tendencies or intentions.