Русский
Former Prime Minister Abe Shinzō made women’s active participation in the labor force one of the planks of his growth strategy. But despite a short-term surge in the number of female managers, overall conditions have improved little for Japanese working women, most of whom labor in low-paying part-time or temporary jobs. Indeed, the COVID-19 pandemic has erased many of the labor gains women have made, even while highlighting their role as “essential workers.” In a recent interview, economist Shutō Wakana stressed the need for aggressive government action to improve women’s working conditions in the post-pandemic era, citing critical shortages in the healthcare and childcare industries.