The number of employed people may drop by as
much as 8.45 million by 2030 from the 2010 figure of 62.98 million, according
to a labor ministry panel of experts studying the country's employment
policy.
In its report unveiled Monday, the panel emphasized the need for the government
to help women and young people find and secure
jobs because the decline in employees is likely to hinder the nation's
economic growth.
The estimate
of a maximum contraction of 8.45 million was made on the basis of assumptions
that economic growth will remain at zero percent and the number of working
women and elderly will remain unchanged through 2030.
On the other hand, if the economy keeps
growing at about 2 percent in real terms, while the proportion of working women and elderly people rises from 2010
levels, the decline in employed individuals over the 20-year period is
projected to be 2.13 million.
The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry's
panel said it is important to help women raising children to find work, while
at the same time extending support to help secure jobs for the elderly.
To create jobs, the panel said it is
necessary to support domestic manufacturing businesses, a sector that is
being hollowed out at an
accelerating rate as operational footholds are shifted abroad to cut costs
and remain internationally competitive.
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VOCABULARY
1.
Unveiled - to
show or tell people about a new product or plan for the first time
2.
Secure - to
get or achieve something that will be permanent, especially after a lot of
effort
3.
Estimate - a
calculation of the value, size, amount etc of something
4.
Proportion - a part of a number or amount, considered in
relation to the whole
5.
Hollowed - to
make a hole or empty space by removing the inside part of something
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
1.
Talk about employment in Japan.
2.
What is the effect of economy to Japan’s employment
nowadays?
3.
Do you agree that both husband and wife must
work for the family?
