Chapter 6: Factors Influencing Ownership and Accumulation ofAssets

This chapter is concerned with exploring the employment and income situation of therespondents in both countries. These are considered to be vital elements influencing
the opportunities for ownership and asset accumulation.
Employment Status
The majority of women in the Japanese sample were employed either full-time (19.1
per cent: 421) or part-time/irregularly (34.5 per cent: 760) or classified themselves as
self-employed (8.3 per cent:184). 36.1 per cent of women (797) indicated they werewithout a job at the time of interview (see table 6.1). As table 6.2 shows the majorityof respondents without a job (42.8 per cent:299) were in the 25-34 age group andmost likely to be married (41 per cent of all married respondents). Part-time/irregular
work was also most likely to be identified amongst married women (34.8 per cent of
all married women). However, it was also in the 25-34 age cohort that we see thehighest percentage of women identifying themselves as full-time, regular workers(23.7 per cent:166), compared to 16.4 per cent (128) in the 35-44 age group and 17.5
per cent (127) in the 45-54 age group. Those falling into this category are most likely
to be never married, widowed or divorced. According to Atoh et al (2004) it is thecase for Japan that despite an increase in the labour market participation rate forwomen in Japan, there remains a dip in participation rates at 25-29, continuing
through to 30-34 as women exit the labour market to care for children and otherfamily members.

Thus the traditional M pattern of women’s labour market

participation rates remains.

According to Atoh et al (2004) male and female

participation rates are about the same until the age of 25. By the age of 30-34
women’s participation rate is around 50 per cent that of males. This pattern ofwomen’s labour market participation is not evident in the UK.
Over half of the British sample (55%) were working full-time at the time of interview,and 209 women (21%) were engaged in part-time work (Table 6.3). In the national－ 39 －context (United Kingdom), the rise in the number of women in the labour force overthe last three decades has been greatest among those in the 25 to 44 age bracket,
followed by those aged 45 to 54 (Labour Force Survey, ONS in Social Trends). 143
women (14%) were staying at home or not seeking work at the time of interview.
Table 6.1 Employment status (Japan)

Sample #s(%)

Fulltime/regular
work
421
19.1

Part-time,& casual
work
760
34.5

Self
employment

Withoutjob

Don’tknow

Total

184
8.3

797
36.1

432

2205
100

Table 6.2: Employment status by age (Japan)

25-34
35-44
45-54
Total

Sample#s(%)
Sample#s(%)
Sample#s(%)
Sample#s(%)

Fulltime/regular
work
166

Parttime/irregular
work
191

Selfemployed

Withoutjob

Don’tknow

Total

30

299

13699

23.7
128

27.3
297

4.3
65

42.8
281

1.9
9100
780

16.4
127

38.1
272

8.3
89

36.1
217

1.2
21100
726

17.5
421

37.5
760

12.3
184

29.8
797

2.9
43100
2205

19.1

34.5

8.3

36.1

2.0

100

Table 6.3: Employment status (Britain)
Full-time Part-time local or Registered
NotLong
work (31 work (less governme unemployed registeredtermhours+ pw) than 31 nt raining /signing on unemployed sickness
hours pw) scheme
for JSAbut seeking
orworkdisabledSample
#s(%)

555

209

55

21

At home/ Full/partnot
timeseeking educationwork
Sample #s(%)

143
14

20
22

Other

81－ 40 －Retired

21

1444

62

141

Type of WorkAs table 6.4 shows the majority of women in the Japanese survey were in sales work
(18.8 per cent:414), and clerical and related occupations (12.8 per cent :283). 7.0per
cent (154) of respondents were classified as service workers and 10.9 per cent (241)of women were in professional, technical and management work.
The women in the British survey were engaged in various types of work frommanagement to skilled trades, and service and customer service occupations. The
largest number of the sample (164 women; 21%) had professional occupations
including health professionals and teachers, followed by 17% (128 women) in
administrative and secretarial occupations. Many others worked in the service
industry as personal service providers and sales assistants (Table 6.5).
Table 6.4: Type of work (Japan)

Sample #s(%)
Protectiveserviceworker
20.1

Professionaland technicalworker
217
9.8Manager andofficial
24
1.1

Worker intransport
90.4

Sales
workerServiceworker

415
18.8

154
7.0

Agricultural, forestry
and fishery worker

Construction
worker

Other

160.7

148
6.7

61
2.8－ 41 －Clericaland related
worked283
12.8

Table 6.5: Type of work (Britain)
Managers &Professional Associatesenior officials occupations professional(production/ (engineer/(technician,officemanagement nurse,manager,
consultant/journalist,
senior officer software
police officer,
in the Police/ professional/ sales rep)
Fire Services) teacher/healthprofessional)
Sample #s(%)

47
6

164
21

64
8

Personal
Sales &service
customeroccupation
service(hairdresser, occupations
care assistant, (salesnursery nurse) assistant, callcentreoperator)
91
97
Sample #s1213(%)

Administrative Skilled trade& secretarial occupations
occupations (bricklayer,(accounts
plumber, chef,clerk & credit electrician)controller,
secretary,receptionist)
128
1729
4

Process, plant Elementary
Otheror machine
occupations
operatives(labourer,(assembly line catering
worker,assistant, bar
bus/lorrystaff, cleaner)
driver)20
379
10405Income Sources
In the Japanese survey, as table 6.6 shows, the majority of women were receiving
income from employment outside the home (56.5 per cent:1245), with 3.9 (85)gaining income from self employment and 2.3 (50) women from piecework at home.
However, 33.8 per cent of respondents (746 women) stated that they had no income
sources.
The majority of the British female sample were receiving income from their main job
as an employee (701 women; 70%) and a further 6% from self-employment (see table
6.7). Those receiving pensions (27 women; 3%) or student grant (10 women; 1%)
were a small minority reflecting the age bracket of the sample (between 25 and 54
years old). Forty-three percent (433 women) were receiving some sort of state benefit
or allowance including tax credits. Some were receiving Job Seekers Allowance,
Housing Benefit, or Income Support. Since 558 female samples had one or more
dependent children, some working mothers may be receiving Chid Tax Credit and/or
Working Tax Credit. Only ten women mentioned that they were receiving rent
income from their property or sub-letting. (This question allowed multiple answers).

－ 42 －Table 6.6: Income sources (Japan)
Sample #s(%)

Noincome746
33.8

Income fromemployment
1245
56.5Pension
50.2

Allowance
80.4

Others
200.9

Income from selfemployment
85
3.9

Piece workat home50
2.3

Don’t know
462.1

Total
2205
100.0

Table 6.7: Income sources (Britain)
Incomefrom main
job asemployee
701
70

Sample #s(%)

Earnings
Earnings Occupation Private
State benefits
from selffrom other al pension pension or or allowances
employment work
annuities (all benefits,
tax credits,statepensions)
65
20
15
12433
62
2
1
43

Student
Maintenancegrant, loan, separation
maintenanc allowance
eSample #s(%)

10
123
2Rent
Payments Any otherfrom afrom a trust payment
property fund,sourcesor sub- income fromletting
investment
10
1

14
1

38
4

Income Levels
Over a third (39%) of the British sample were receiving total income of less than
£10,000 annually (Table 6.8). This is not their ‘household income’ (which includes
their partner’s income/earnings if any) since our questionnaire focused on women’sindividual income. The income bracket with the highest number was between £10,000
and £19,999, of which 311 women (31%) fell in this category. Less than 10% of thewomen described their annual income as over £30,000. As table 6.9 indicates of theJapanese sample over two-thirds of respondents were receiving income below¥129,000 (£6,500). 31.8 per cent of respondents (702) indicated that they had no
individual income, and 35.4 per cent (780) had incomes of between ¥10,000-¥129,000.
Just over 17 per cent (375) received income between ¥1,300,000 and ¥2,990,000, with－ 43 －

5.7 per cent with income between ¥3,000,000 and ¥3,990,000. Just over 5 percent ofrespondents (128) recorded an income of over ¥4,000,000.
Table 6.8: Total annual gross income from all sources (Britain)
Sample #s(%)

Up to£4999£5000£9999£10000£19999£20000£29999£30000£39999£40000+

146
15237
24

311
31

72
7

60
631
3

Table 6.9: Total annual gross income from all sources (Japan)
IncomeSample #s(%)¥30000003990000
126
5.7Noincome
702
31.8

¥10001290000
780
35.4

¥13000001990000
1828.3¥4000000+Don’tknow
94
4.3

Total

128
5.8

2205
100.0

－ 44 －¥20000002990000
1938.8