Share of working mothers in Japan tops 70 percent for 1st time
Jiji -- Jul 21
The proportion of women with children who said they were employed stood at a record high of 70.8 pct in 2017, exceeding 70 pct for the first time, a survey by the labor ministry showed Friday.

The figure was up 3.6 percentage points from a year earlier, the ministry's comprehensive survey of living conditions said.

The result has highlighted the need to support mothers who are working while raising their children.

Explaining the increase of working mothers, the ministry said a growing number of companies have adopted childcare leave and shorter working hour systems.

Of the working mothers, 24.7 pct were regular workers, 37 pct were nonregular workers and 9.1 pct were in other working situations, including company executives and working on the side.

国民生活の調査で、仕事を持つ母親の割合が初めて70%を超え、過去最高となりました。 厚生労働省が去年、行った国民生活基礎調査によりますと、子どもがいる世帯は1173万4000世帯で、そのうち仕事をしている母親の割合が70.8%に上ることが分かりました。
News sources: Jiji, ANNnewsCH
Apr 02
As the new coronavirus spreads in Japan, some foreigners in the country lack information due to language barriers. (NHK)
Dec 26
The average winter bonus for workers at major Japanese businesses rose 1.77 percent from a year earlier to a record ¥951,411 this year, a survey showed Wednesday. (Japan Times)
May 03
Finance ministers and central bank governors of the ASEAN states, along with Japan, China, and South Korea say they will discuss a plan to incorporate Japanese and Chinese currencies in a swap program to ensure financial stability in the region. (NHK)
Mar 26
Tokyo's benchmark Nikkei Average saw its biggest fall of 2019. The drop followed a plunge on Friday on Wall Street that came amid new worries of an economic slowdown. (NHK)
Mar 20
As trade talks between Japan and the US look likely to start soon, and the price of oil drops in Japan, the value of the Yen is increasingly under threat of deflation. (newsonjapan.com)
Mar 20
The average price of all types of land in urban areas rose last year for the first time since 1992 as the growing influx of foreign tourists rejuvenated real estate investment, the government said Tuesday. (Japan Times)
Mar 19
The Japanese economy will likely once again be assessed as "recovering at a moderate pace" in the government's monthly report due out Wednesday, which also will note potential risks from overseas economies. (Nikkei)
Mar 16
Japan will tighten oversight of pay for foreign employees through ordinances issued Friday, aiming to address major concerns over working conditions as the country prepares to accept more labor from abroad starting next month. (Nikkei)
Mar 09
Since the 2008 global financial crisis, expansionary monetary policy has been the order of the day in most of the major advanced economies. (Japan Times)
Mar 08
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga denied a media report Thursday that the government is considering introducing a minimum wage for specific industrial sectors that would apply to workers nationwide, regardless of where they live. (Japan Times)