Wage growth for Japanese workers strengthened for the first time in four months in September, though the gains are still likely short of the pace sought by the central bank before paring back stimulus.

Nominal cash earnings for workers rose 1.2% from the previous year, accelerating from a revised 0.8% increase in August largely on the back of gains in base pay, the labor ministry said Tuesday. Economists had also expected a 1.2% gain. Real wages continued to fall for the 18th month.