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Working the shopping mall: Labour shortages and the dualities in Japan’s labour economy

Working the shopping mall: Labour shortages and the dualities in Japan’s labour economy The Japanese labour market has for long been sharply divided along the lines of gender and contractual status, with these attributes largely determining employment conditions. Yet, Japan’s demographic situation has led to labour shortages, and it needs to be asked whether companies can sustain current employment practices. This article seeks answers to this question by looking at the employment situation in retailing, specifically in shopping centres, places that are demanding in terms of working hours and employ high numbers of female and non-regular employees. The emergence of labour shortages led to a lively discourse among the members of the Japan Council of Shopping Centers, the industry’s association, and this discourse has been featured in the industry journal SC Japan Today. Analysing this discourse, the article argues that companies have built their business models on the assumption of a ready labour supply, and they are now becoming more flexible in employment practices. Yet, companies avoid a discussion of remuneration levels and are also looking at other solutions such as the reorganization of work processes or automation, and especially the employment of foreign employees. An increase in foreign employees may lead to new dualities based on nationality in the future. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Contemporary Japan Taylor & Francis

Working the shopping mall: Labour shortages and the dualities in Japan’s labour economy

Meyer-Ohle, Hendrik
Contemporary Japan , Volume 34 (1): 16 – Jan 2, 2022
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Working the shopping mall: Labour shortages and the dualities in Japan’s labour economy

Abstract

The Japanese labour market has for long been sharply divided along the lines of gender and contractual status, with these attributes largely determining employment conditions. Yet, Japan’s demographic situation has led to labour shortages, and it needs to be asked whether companies can sustain current employment practices. This article seeks answers to this question by looking at the employment situation in retailing, specifically in shopping centres, places that are demanding in terms...
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Publisher
Taylor & Francis
Copyright
© 2022 German Institute for Japanese Studies
ISSN
1869-2737
eISSN
1869-2729
DOI
10.1080/18692729.2022.2028226
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

The Japanese labour market has for long been sharply divided along the lines of gender and contractual status, with these attributes largely determining employment conditions. Yet, Japan’s demographic situation has led to labour shortages, and it needs to be asked whether companies can sustain current employment practices. This article seeks answers to this question by looking at the employment situation in retailing, specifically in shopping centres, places that are demanding in terms of working hours and employ high numbers of female and non-regular employees. The emergence of labour shortages led to a lively discourse among the members of the Japan Council of Shopping Centers, the industry’s association, and this discourse has been featured in the industry journal SC Japan Today. Analysing this discourse, the article argues that companies have built their business models on the assumption of a ready labour supply, and they are now becoming more flexible in employment practices. Yet, companies avoid a discussion of remuneration levels and are also looking at other solutions such as the reorganization of work processes or automation, and especially the employment of foreign employees. An increase in foreign employees may lead to new dualities based on nationality in the future.

Journal

Contemporary Japan – Taylor & Francis

Published: Jan 2, 2022

Keywords: Japan; employment; non-regular employment; retailing; foreign employees; shopping centres

References

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