Today's Close-Up S2024E27 - Is My Pension Enough? Risks Awaiting Japanese Women in Retirement

New data shows the average monthly pension for Japanese women is about 300 dollars less than it is for men. Across all generations, women face a greater risk of financial insecurity in retirement. The reasons for this can be attributed to restrictive gender roles in Japanese firms: men are promoted to managerial positions, while women are assigned lower-paying roles so they can focus on home and childcare commitments. As a result, women are forced to accept jobs that offer lower pension benefits. The "pension gap" is turning into a serious social problem as lifespans lengthen and more women choose to live alone. We look at what companies and the government are doing to combat the issue, and how we can ensure we have a comfortable retirement.

Guests: 
Ido Mie (Social Insurance Labor Consultant)
Bo Mioko (Social Development Research Department, NLI Research Institute)