## Japan: Selected Issues

_IMF Staff Country Reports, May 13, 2024_

## Source details

**Canonical URL:** [Japan: Selected Issues](https://www.imf.org/en/publications/cr/issues/2024/05/13/japan-selected-issues-548849)

## Other formats

- [Markdown version](/en/publications/cr/issues/2024/05/13/japan-selected-issues-548849/index.md)
- [Structured JSON version](/en/publications/cr/issues/2024/05/13/japan-selected-issues-548849/index.json)
- [Bundle manifest](/en/publications/cr/issues/2024/05/13/japan-selected-issues-548849/bundle-manifest.json)

## Bibliographic details
- Published: May 13, 2024
- Series: IMF Staff Country Reports
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9798400276682.002

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### Summary
- This Selected Issues paper analyzes the main drivers of persistent gender gaps in leadership in Japan and identifies public policies that can play a role in closing these gaps.
- Despite its economic relevance, analysis on the drivers of women leaders and managers in Japan is limited; a few existing studies, such as Yamaguchi (2013), use firm level or survey-based data to identify key constraints to women’s career advancement.
- Women are underrepresented in policy-making positions.
- The availability of public childcare facilities has improved and is positively associated with the share of female managers.
- Increasing female labor force participation is not sufficient to ensure that women have good jobs and good careers; policy efforts need acceleration to foster advancement of women into managerial and leadership positions.

### Key findings and analysis
- Limited empirical literature exists on determinants of female leadership in Japan; notable cited work includes Yamaguchi (2013).
- Public childcare availability correlates positively with the share of female managers.
- Structural factors in employment practices and policies impede women’s career progression despite higher labor force participation.
- Improving women’s access to managerial and leadership roles would contribute to higher productivity and wages and advance an equal society.

### Policy recommendations
- Reform current employment practices and policies to improve the quality of jobs for women.
- Further progress on work-style reforms is essential, including:
  - Encouraging the use of flexible working schedules.
  - Expanding teleworking options.

### Evidence and scope
- The paper emphasizes firm-level and survey-based analyses as primary evidence sources.
- The analysis spans considerations relevant to gender, gender inequality, income, income distribution, income inequality, labor market dualism, wage income, and women’s representation in policymaking.

*International Monetary Fund. Asia and Pacific Dept "Japan: Selected Issues", IMF Staff Country Reports 2024, 119 (2024), accessed 9/9/2026, https://doi.org/10.5089/9798400276682.002*

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## Content in this bundle

- **Japan: Selected Issues; IMF Country Report No. 24/119; April 19, 2024**
  - [Japan: Selected Issues; IMF Country Report No. 24/119; April 19, 2024 (Markdown version)](/-/media/files/publications/cr/2024/english/1jpnea2024011.pdf.md){rel="alternate" type="text/markdown"}
  - [Japan: Selected Issues; IMF Country Report No. 24/119; April 19, 2024 (PDF)](/-/media/files/publications/cr/2024/english/1jpnea2024011.pdf){rel="external" type="application/pdf"}

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_Source: https://www.imf.org/en/publications/cr/issues/2024/05/13/japan-selected-issues-548849_