A growing number of local governments in Japan are making it easier for male workers to take paternity leave, aiming to retain staff amid ongoing population shifts to larger cities. In fiscal 2024, 58.5% of eligible male local government employees took child care leave, surpassing 50% for the first time. Among administrative officials, the rate reached 75%.
Across Japan, local governments are increasingly simplifying procedures for male employees to take paternity leave. This effort seeks to hold onto human resources as populations continue to migrate to major urban centers.
In fiscal 2024, the proportion of eligible male local government employees who took child care leave reached 58.5%, marking the first time it exceeded 50%. For male administrative officials, excluding police officers and education board staff, the figure climbed to 75%. This represents a sharp rise from just 1.5% a decade ago.
These developments stem from broader initiatives in child care support and work style reforms, addressing issues related to parenthood and men's roles. Keywords associated with the topic include children, parenthood, work style reform, and men's issues. In regions facing depopulation, such measures could play a vital role in stemming the outflow of workers.
The backdrop involves Japan's ongoing challenge of low birth rates, which exacerbates the need for local vitality.