Household finances for 38% of workers fall into red

TOKYO —

A record 38.7% of private sector workers in their 20s to 50s said their household finances fell into the red during the past year, according to a research institute. The Research Institute for Advancement of Living Standards based its conclusions on a survey last month, to which 573 workers around the Tokyo and Osaka areas responded.

Among respondents with an annual income of less than 4 million yen, 60.4% said their household finances went into red, with the figure climbing to 62.9% among male irregular employees, according to the think tank of the Japanese Trade Union Confederation, known as Rengo.

Of particular note were the 31.4% of male non-regular employees who said they could not pay taxes and social insurance premiums and the 20% who cut back on meals. The survey also showed 17.1% of such workers could not afford to see doctors because of their financial difficulties.

http://www.japantoday.com/category/business/view/household-finances-for-38-of-workers-fall-into-red