Gender Gap Index 2023 - Japan ranks 125th

 

◆Almost unchanged from last year, record low ranking

In June, the World Economic Forum (WEF) released its Gender Gap Index, which quantifies the gender gap in each country in 2023. Japan's overall score was 0.647, almost unchanged from last year, ranking 125th out of 146 countries (the lowest in the G7 nations). Iceland ranked first with an overall score of 0.912.

The Gender Gap Index indicates the ratio of women to men and is calculated by calculating scores in each of the four areas of economy, education, health, and politics, which are then averaged and rated on a scale of 0 (full inequality) to 1 (full equality).

◆Low in economic and political areas

By sector, education (male-female ratio of literacy and school attendance) was high at 0.997 (47th), and health (gender difference ratio at birth and healthy life expectancy) was high at 0.973 (59th). However, the country's economy (gender ratio of labor participation rate, gender gap in wages for equal work, gender ratio of managers, etc.) was 0.561 (123rd), and politics (gender ratio of Diet members and cabinet members, etc.) was 0.057 (138th), which is low compared to other countries, indicating that there is a gender gap.

 ◆30% female board members by 2030

In June, the government announced the "Women's Version of the big-boned policy (Priority Policy for Women's Activities and Gender Equality)" in order to close the gender gap in the economic field. Prime Minister Kishida then set a target for companies listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime Market to appoint at least one female board member by 2025, and to increase the ratio of female board members to 30% by 2030. The plan also includes fostering and supporting female entrepreneurs and promoting the development of female digital talent and reskilling.

New treatment of foreign students' status of residence has been established

On July 6, the Immigration Services Agency announced the establishment of a new handling of status of residence, which will allow international students who have graduated from universities to stay within a certain period of time until they enter graduate school.

The new treatment is as follows

Outline

If an international student who has graduated from a university and will be entering a graduate school after the expiration of his/her current "College Student" status of residence, and if the graduate school he/she is entering pledges to keep in touch with the student at regular intervals and to contact the regional immigration office without delay if the student's admission is cancelled, the student may be permitted to change his/her status of residence to "Designated Activities" and stay until he/she enters a graduate school (but only for a period not exceeding one year after graduation). If the student pledges to contact the Regional Immigration Services Bureau without delay in the event of cancellation of admission, the change of status of residence to "Designated Activities" will be permitted and the student will be allowed to stay until admission (but only for a period not exceeding one year after graduation from the university).

Eligible person

Foreigners (this does not include students in special course, auditing students, non-degree students, and research students) who have graduated (or completed a graduate course) from a Japanese university (including graduate schools) under the School Education Law of Japan, and who wish to stay in Japan for the purpose of waiting in Japan (within one year after graduation) until they enter a graduate school they have decided to enter after graduation.

Submitted materials

(1) Documents proving the applicant's ability to pay all expenses during his/her stay in Japan

If a person other than the foreign student concerned is responsible for paying the expenses, a document that proves the person's ability to pay the expenses and a document that clarifies how the person came to pay the expenses.

(2) Diploma or certificate of graduation (or completion) from the university you attended immediately before

(3) Documents issued by the graduate school in which you plan to enroll that confirm the fact that you plan to enroll and the date of enrollment (e.g., letter of admission)

(4) A written pledge (see note below) stating compliance with periodic communication, etc., by the graduate school to which the student will be admitted to wait for admission to the school.