Japan employment trends: Wage gaps between regular employees and part-time workers

Data from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare indicates that the number of part-time workers, or 'freeters', reached 1.36 million in 2024, an increase of 20,000 people annually since 2022.

Analysis of wage structures shows that while salary differences are minimal for workers in their early 20s, the gap widens significantly with age. For workers aged 20 to 24, the annual income gap between regular employees and part-time workers is approximately 408,000 yen. By the 40 to 44 age bracket, this disparity grows to 1,608,000 yen.

Furthermore, regular employees benefit from significantly higher rates of social insurance coverage and corporate benefits. Over 90 percent of regular employees are enrolled in employment, health, and welfare pension insurance, whereas coverage rates for non-regular workers are substantially lower. Regular employees also have much higher access to retirement benefits and bonuses.