Japanese Men Say "Will Change Jobs If Unable to Take Parental Leave"... Rapid Shift in Dual-Income Perceptions

39.4% of Young Single Men Prefer Dual-Income Families
Companies Compete to Offer "100% Paternity Leave"

In Japan, where the rate of dual-income households and male parental leave was significantly lower than in Korea, the proportion of young men who prefer dual-income households has approached 40%, marking an all-time high. This is interpreted as a result of the economic situation where dual incomes have become essential for survival amid economic downturns and soaring prices, along with a shift in social awareness regarding men's participation in childcare.

According to the Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei) on the 6th, a survey conducted by the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research in Japan in 2021 targeting single men and women aged 18 to 34 asked about the "ideal working style for couples." The proportion of men who preferred dual-income households recorded 39.4%, which is more than four times higher compared to 1987.

The proportion of both men and women who responded that both spouses continue their careers after childbirth, i.e., "dual-income," also reached a record high of 34.0%, surpassing the "re-employment" (26.1%) rate where women temporarily quit work after childbirth.

The problem lies in the lack of an environment conducive to dual-income households. In particular, Japan has a relatively low rate of men sharing household chores. According to the Cabinet Office's "International Comparison of Time Use" released this year, in Western countries, the unpaid labor time for women, such as housework and childcare, is about 1.5 times that of men, but in Japan, it reaches 5.5 times.

As a result, attempts to change this phenomenon are increasing, especially among the younger generation. A survey conducted last year by Cybozu Teamwork Research Institute targeting 1,000 male office workers found that 70% answered they would like to change their working style once childcare begins.

In the Cabinet Office's survey last year, among men with children, only 10% of those aged 40 to 69 wanted to increase their time spent on housework and childcare, but among the younger generation aged 20 to 39, this proportion rose nearly threefold to about 30%. Additionally, more than 30% of men aged 20 to 39 responded that they would like to reduce their working hours once childcare starts.

Consequently, there are gradual movements such as changing jobs without hesitation if the company atmosphere does not allow taking parental leave. A representative from the job search specialist site Recruit told Nikkei, "In recent years, cases of men changing or switching jobs due to childcare reasons have increased significantly." In fact, among cases handled by Recruit, a man in his 30s changed jobs last year citing the "Daddy Track." This is the male version of the "Mommy Track" in Japan, where women who raise children while working are not promoted; similarly, men who cannot work overtime due to childcare are excluded from promotions.

Nikkei also mentioned additional cases, such as a man in his 30s who requested work adjustments to take his child to daycare and eventually changed jobs from the financial sector to an accounting firm, and a man in his 20s who decided to switch from a supervisor position to a telecommuting company to spend more time bathing and preparing meals for his child.

Promoting work-family balance systems such as the 'Working Parents Network' by Japan KPMG (Photo by KPMG official website)

Companies are also aligning with these changes. Consulting firm KPMG has established a "Working Parents Network" where employees raising children can share concerns and know-how. Male employees make up 40% of this group. They hold internal sessions about once a month to share topics such as "career and childcare" and "concerns of parents with exam-taking children."

Some companies have completely reconsidered their working methods. For example, Tomoe System, a machinery parts trading company in Kobe City, has raised the male parental leave rate to 100% since 2019. Previously, due to frequent overtime, it was difficult for men to take parental leave, but they created an environment where everyone accepts it.

President Hideto Yanase said, "We eliminated tasks that only one person could do," and "We worked to create an environment where people can help each other during breaks." As a result, the turnover rate dropped from 14.5% in 2014 to 4.0% in 2022, and new applicant numbers increased significantly.

Nikkei stated, "The idea that couples should equally share housework and childcare is spreading mainly among the younger generation," and added, "In companies where long working hours are normalized, the rates of job changes and resignations are expected to increase."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.