Women promoted in managerial functions at a quarter of the men’s rate in Japan: Mainchi analysis

Tokyo – Women from Japanese companies are promoted in managerial functions at just a quarter of the men’s rate, found a Mainich Shimbun analysis of 2,083 companies at national level.

Mainichi Shimbun analyzed data from companies from all over the country before International Women’s Day on March 8th. This year there is a decade since the adoption of a law that promotes the participation and advancement of women in the workplace that requires companies to formulate action plans to appoint women. Despite the progress among Japanese companies, the results of the analysis indicate that significant barriers remain for women.

The gender difference in promotions was analyzed using the “promotion report”, a metric that divides the rate of women’s promotions into a certain position depending on the rate of men’s promotions. This metric was proposed by Akira Wakisaka, a professor emeritus at Gakushuin University, specialized in the labor economy and has researched women’s work problems.

In the analysis, the men’s promotion rate is set at 1, and the women’s promotion rate is compared to it. A figure below 1 means that women are promoted less than men.

Mainichi Shimbun performed the calculations in collaboration with Akiko Ouchi, a professor at the Professional School of Kwansa Gakuin. The analysis specifically targeted 2,083 companies with over 301 employees that reveal information in the “Database of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Assistance Assistance on promoting participation and advancement of women in the workplace”.

A narrow path beyond the head of the section

The results showed that the promotion report for ordinary female employees and managerial functions (equivalent positions with the head of the section or above, except for the executives) was only 0.24. Moreover, while the position of the head of the section is considered a precursor to managerial positions, the relationship between promoting women from the head of the section to managerial functions has reached only 0.37. This was lower than the report for promoting from the usual employee to the head of the section (0.64), emphasizing a “wall” that exists beyond the level of the head of the section.

Regarding the industry’s environments, the promotion report and the head of the section in the finance and insurance sectors (160 companies) was 1.08, indicating that women were promoted at the same pace or a little more than men, but the ratio between promotions from ordinary employees and managerial functions was low. In the production sector (558 companies), the promotion rates at the head of the section and managerial positions were both low, at 0.51 and 0.2 respectively. Managerial Promotion Report at Mainichi Newspapers Co. It was 0.47, indicating a lower rate for women.

According to the act on promoting the active involvement of women in professional life, which entered into force in 2015, corporate efforts were mandated. The proportion of female managers has increased accordingly, but remains below 20%.

The Ministry of Labor is preparing to modify the law during the current diet session to request companies with 101 or more employees to reveal the report between female managers. Also, companies will be asked to show their promotion rates as a reference values ​​to provide a visual representation of gender gap in promotions.

Reviewing the necessary work styles

Professor Ouchi commented: “The results reflect the reality that, while companies can quickly promote women at the head of the section, in an attempt to superficially increase the number of women in higher positions, they do not promote them in managerial positions in which the process of making important decisions is involved.” She added: “In order for companies to truly do the appointment of women in managerial functions, their only option is to constantly continue with human resources development and working style reforms. As households with double income increase and become commonplace to share the responsibilities of the house and the child’s development, national transfers. ”

(Original Japanese by Aya Shiota, Department of Lifestyle, Science and Environment)

The promotion report

The Promotion Ratio Was Based on 2,083 out of 54,759 Businesses Registered in the Database on Promotion of Women’s Participation and Advancement in the Workplace as of February, which mets are criteria: (1) Having 301 or more Employees, Requiring them to disclose Gender Wage Gap Information, (2) Disclosing the Percentages of Women Working As Regular Employees, Section Chiefs and in Managerial Posts, and (3) Having Data Updated from 2024 before. The formula for calculation was: “female managers divided by male managers” divided by “female employees divided by men’s employees”. If companies have disclosed separate data for traction and regular employees, the analysis has been limited to ordinary employees.