Preferences for working hours over life course among Japanese manufacturing workers

Abstract

Purpose

The paper sets out to explore how Japanese workers want to allocate their time to work and private life in different stages of life. To examine whether they prefer to reduce hours in paid work and spend more time on family and leisure.

Design/methodology/approach

A statistical analysis was conducted using data from a survey conducted among 3,800 Japanese automotive workers in 2000. Analysis consists of mean comparisons of ideal proportion of work across different stages of life, and comparison of attitudes toward taking leave by age and job type.

Findings

The results of this paper show that a majority of Japanese workers, regardless of age and job type, have a strong preference to work constantly without major career disruptions between ages 20 and 60, then reduce drastically the time spent in paid work after job retirement at age 60. The results suggest that, although Japanese today increasingly recognize the importance of integrating work and private life, deviation from the “normalcy” of work life, or constant working over life course, is still unlikely to be welcome.

Research limitations/implications

Data used in this study were collected only among automotive workers. Caution should be used when generalizing the results to a broader range of industries in Japan.

Originality/value

This study addresses a simple but important question whether and how Japanese want to integrate work and private life over life course. This question deserves a close scrutiny to understanding whether a career perspective over life course is changing in today's Japan.

Citation

Fujimoto, T. (2006), "Preferences for working hours over life course among Japanese manufacturing workers", Career Development International, Vol. 11 No. 3, pp. 204-215. https://doi.org/10.1108/13620430610661731