Record 61 percent in Japan back working mothers: Govt Survey

November 15, 2019

Tokyo--A Cabinet Office survey showed Friday that a record 61.0 pct of the public in Japan think women should continue working after giving birth.

The number rose 6.8 percentage points from the previous survey in 2016, topping 60 pct for the first time since the survey on gender-equal society started in 1992.

The proportion of respondents backing working mothers accounted for some 50 pct among those aged 18-29 and 70 or older.

The figure rose to around 65 pct among those in their 30s to 40s and exceeded 70 pct among those in their 50s.

In contrast, the share of respondents who said that husbands should work outside the home while wives do housework fell to a record low of 35.0 pct.

Respondents who said the burdens of parenting should be equally divided, including by using external services, accounted for 56.6 pct of the total.

The figure stood at 64.4 pct for nursing care for elderly relatives and 58.3 pct for other work in the home.

Over 70 pct of those aged 18-29 supported the equal sharing of roles.

"I think the ideas of supporting women's careers and sharing the workload at home are becoming common," a Cabinet Office official said.

"We want to draw up measures that help everyone, regardless of gender, to balance their working and personal lives," the official added.

The interview survey was conducted between Sept. 5 and 22, covering 5,000 people aged 18 or older. Valid answers were collected from 52.9 pct. Jiji Press