Tochigi is a Hole for Men, Wakayama for Women” Where is the Best Place to Work… A Survey of Wage Statistics by Prefecture Reveals

Women’s “small wage gap” with men is Kochi…

Women, on the other hand, are concerned about the wage gap with men.

The Basic Survey on Wage Structure (’23), “fixed cash wages paid,” also publishes data by gender. The national average of cash salaries for women relative to men is 72.8%, with women remaining at a lower level. The prefectures with the highest percentages and smallest wage disparities are, in order, Kochi (79.4%), Akita (77.5%), and Nagasaki (77.3%). Conversely, Tochigi Prefecture had the lowest rate at 68.4%.

A complicating factor when looking at cash salaries for women is the shorter length of service compared to men. The national average is 13.8 years for men and 9.9 years for women. While there is some variation by prefecture, the average for women is around 10 years. Inevitably, the cash salary of women with shorter years of service is lower than that of men.

An official at the Equal Employment Policy Division of the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare (MHLW) pointed out that men hold more managerial positions and have more years of service, and this difference in wages is believed to be the result of this. He also noted, “Women are less likely to be promoted to managerial positions and above.

The promotion rate of women to managerial positions and above is low, and the number of women in middle-aged and older age groups is thin because many women quit due to pregnancy and childbirth.

While keeping these problems specific to women in mind, a look at cash salaries for women by prefecture shows that Tokyo, Kanagawa, Osaka, Kyoto, Saitama, and Hyogo prefectures, in order, exceed the national average of 280,700 yen, all in the Tokyo metropolitan area and Keihanshin (Kyoto, Osaka, and Kobe). Next are Nara, Aichi, Chiba, Wakayama, and Tochigi prefectures.

For women, Tochigi Prefecture has a relatively high wage of 270,700 yen, while Nara Prefecture’s 278,700 yen and Wakayama Prefecture’s 274,600 yen are on the higher side, with a relatively small wage gap between men and women. Everywhere, the length of service for women is around 10 years.

Women are also considering Wakayama, and the reason is…

In addition to Tochigi Prefecture, Nara and Wakayama prefectures may be attractive to women as places to work .

In addition to wages, bonuses in Wakayama Prefecture exceed the national average of 628,100 yen, at 644,700 yen. Nara and Tochigi prefectures are 569,900 yen and 597,800 yen, respectively.

What kind of place is Wakayama Prefecture? According to “Wakayama Life,” the prefectural government’s immigration support website, the average annual temperature is a mild 17.5 degrees Celsius, and the hours of sunlight are longer than the national average. Commuting time to work is shorter in Wakayama at 22 minutes compared to 44 minutes in Tokyo, 36 minutes in Osaka, and 28 minutes nationwide, according to Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications statistics. Rents and land are inexpensive, and the percentage of homeowners is high, making it possible to live comfortably in one’s own home and enjoying a low cost of living.

Regarding the prefecture’s industries, Wakayama Prefecture has a very high ratio of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and traditional local industries such as the knit industry, which includes textiles, pile fabrics, and daily household goods, are thriving. It also has a high proportion of steel, petroleum, and chemical manufacturing industries.

The recent high cost of living has made life difficult, and a higher wage level would be appreciated. It may be a good idea to compare wage levels in the region and consider the lifestyle of the people.