Japanese banks reshape job structures for gender equality
- Josephine Tan
- Topics: DE&I, Employee Experience, Home Page - News, Japan, Mobility, News
Japan’s largest financial institutions are dismantling outdated job structures that have long limited women’s career advancement, marking a significant shift in the country’s corporate landscape.
Nippon Life Insurance and MUFG Bank have recently abolished their clerical job category—a role historically filled by women, offering lower pay and little chance for promotion. By merging clerical and career-track roles, these organisations aim to open up more senior-level opportunities for women.
This change reflects broader momentum in Japan, where gender inequality remains a pressing issue. In 2023, women in Japan earned an average of 75% of men’s wages across industries. In the financial sector, the gap was wider—62%, with figures dropping to 50% at Mitsubishi UFJ and just 39% at Nippon Life.
The disparities became harder to ignore after a 2022 law required organisations to publish gender pay data. “HR departments now know they have to change – they are being scrutinised both by potential recruits and investors,” said Mioko Bo, Associate Fellow at NLI Research Institute.
Japan’s clerical-career divide stems from postwar norms when women are expected to work only briefly before marriage. Despite legal reforms in 1997, the system persisted, especially in finance.
READ MORE: Female leadership in Japan hits 8.4% in 2024
Automation has now made many clerical roles obsolete, prompting a wave of restructuring across the industry. Other organisations, including Dai-ichi Life, Mizuho, and Sumitomo Mitsui, have already unified job categories, reported Bloomberg.
Still, some employees have expressed concern about the changes, including longer hours and potential relocations. Nobue Kanba, Managing Director and Head of HR at Mitsubishi UFJ Bank, acknowledged these challenges and emphasised the need for support during the transition.
Success stories, though rare, are emerging. Kyomi Nakakura, who joined Nippon Life straight out of high school in 1984 and began her career serving tea to colleagues, became an executive officer in March. “There’s a need for people that give them support,” she said. “I would like to be one of them.”
