Japan's progress in closing the gender pay gap among full-time workers has slowed in 2024, according to a Kyodo News survey based on Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare data [1]. On an index where men's average monthly wages are set at 100, women's wages stood at 75.8, reflecting a gap improvement of only 1.5 points over the past five years [1]. The average monthly pay for men in 2024 was 363,100 yen, compared to 275,300 yen for women, resulting in a gap of nearly 90,000 yen [1]. The pace of narrowing the gap has decelerated significantly: it shrank by 3.0 points from 1999 to 2004, 2.4 points from 2004 to 2009, 2.6 points from 2009 to 2014, but only 1.7 points from 2014 to 2019 and 1.5 points from 2019 to 2024 [1].
Regional disparities are pronounced, with the Tokai region and northern Kanto around Tokyo showing especially stark differences, as women migrate to urban centers to escape areas with entrenched gender role attitudes [1]. Mie Prefecture posted the largest pay gap, followed by Ibaraki, Aichi, Tochigi, and Shizuoka—regions characterized by high incomes, thriving manufacturing industries, and low proportions of women in managerial roles [1]. Conversely, Okinawa recorded the smallest pay gap, followed by Kochi, Tottori, Shimane, and Tokushima, which are lower-income regions [1].
The ratio of women in managerial positions remains low, with women occupying just 15.9 percent of section manager roles and 9.8 percent of managerial and director positions in 2024, according to the Cabinet Office [1]. Akira Kawaguchi, a professor specializing in work-life balance and gender equality, commented that while the gender pay gap is improving, the pace is slow and Japan is unlikely to achieve equality comparable to European countries in the coming decades [1].
No explicit market reactions or analyst opinions regarding the impact on listed companies or sectors were discussed in the article [1].
CONCLUSION
Japan's gender pay gap continues to narrow, but progress has slowed considerably in recent years, with significant regional disparities and low representation of women in managerial positions. The slow pace of improvement suggests persistent structural challenges, and experts do not expect parity with European standards in the near future. While the issue remains relevant for labor market dynamics, no immediate market-moving reactions were reported.