While Corporate Japan is still struggling to embrace gender diversity, there are signs of change in the traditionally male building industry; a new term kensetsu komachi – literally meaning “construction — young women” – has been coined to relate to a new generation of women working in the industry. However, companies under pressure from the government to fill directorship roles with women are still hiring experts from outside their own ranks and from abroad. Women who are promoted to senior roles are often restricted to areas such as PR, HR and corporate social responsibility. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s “womenomics” campaign has promised to raise the female employment rate from 68% to 73% by 2020. However, the campaign’s targets were lowered in December. Large companies are now required to appoint women to 9.2% of senior positions by 2020, compared with 15% today.
While Corporate Japan is still struggling to embrace gender diversity, there are signs of change in the traditionally male building industry; a new term kensetsu komachi – literally meaning “construction — young women” – has been coined to relate to a new generation of women working in the industry. However, companies under pressure from the government to fill directorship roles with women are still hiring experts from outside their own ranks and from abroad. Women who are promoted to senior roles are often restricted to areas such as PR, HR and corporate social responsibility. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s “womenomics” campaign has promised to raise the female employment rate from 68% to 73% by 2020. However, the campaign’s targets were lowered in December. Large companies are now required to appoint women to 15% of senior positions by 2020, compared with 9.2% today.