Japan's gender wage gap, while narrower than in previous decades, remains a significant hurdle on the path to sustainable and equitable growth. The statistics unequivocally show a gap: Japanese women, as well educated and as capable as men, earn considerably less on average – a gap that not only slows their own economic prosperity but that also slows the nation's overall economic dynamism. We've seen how the gap emerges out of a complex combination of structural and cultural factors, from conventional societal norms to company policies that have not kept pace with the times. And we've seen how development theories like Human Capital Theory and the Capability Approach both point to the need to enable women to join and earn on equal terms – in the interest of efficiency, justice, and liberty.
Above all, closing the gender pay gap is not a women's issue; it is a national economic imperative. In a rapidly aging society, Japan cannot afford to squander half its talent. There are numerous studies and Japan's own experience that demonstrate that enabling women in the labor market reaps rich rewards: higher growth, greater innovation, and improved family well-being. Countries that have made progress on gender pay equity offer valuable lessons – whether it's Sweden's robust support for working parents or new disclosure laws that many countries have adopted. Japan began moving in the right direction with policies like pay gap disclosure and increased funding for childcare, but the pace needs to accelerate. Being the world's third-largest economy, Japan has the potential and incentive to be a gender equality leader rather than a follower.
The future will depend on consistent political will and public dedication. It is about constantly questioning and changing those "taken for granted" assumptions – such as the presumption that domestic work is women's work – and replacing them with a vision of true partnership and meritocracy. It entails companies embracing diversity as a strength, and policy-makers willing to be radical in action (such as paying paternal leave or setting specific gender goals) even if it means bucking the trend. The final goal is a Japan where one's earnings and career prospects are determined by merit and effort, not by gender; a Japan where daughters as well as sons can aspire to any occupation, and mothers as well as fathers can reconcile work and family. This will not only right an old wrong but also unlock new sources of growth at a time when the economy needs it. In essence, ending the gender wage gap is part of bringing a prosperous and inclusive future for Japan. When the country continues to build such a future, it will be building a success story of development—a story where economic development and social advancement advance side by side.