Marriage rate for non-regular employees half that of regular employees

Single males in non-regular employment have a much lower marriage rate than that of regular employees, a government survey has shown.

Moreover, the birth rate is lower among female non-regular workers than their regularly-employed peers, according to the survey.

The results of the survey conducted by the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry suggest that the low marriage and birth rates are due partly to Japan’s insecure job market.

“Salaries for irregular employees are lower, and it’s harder for irregular workers to take child-care leave. These factors apparently discourage them from marrying and having children,” a ministry official said.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20090313p2a00m0na002000c.html