Japan’s apparent aging and decreasing population is causing the greatest shortages of manpower for labor-intensive sectors. Industries like hotels, restaurants, and elderly care facilities are less capable of offering competitive wages as they hit lowest on productivity per employee. Also, the elderly care system is undermined by government efforts that set the compensation down.
In 2015, the average monthly wages in Japan fell for the fourth consecutive year. The central bank’s target for the average monthly wage increase is 2% for 2016, but the labor ministry data records an increase of only 1% in September. Adding to this labor predicament is the sabotage of employees’ bargaining power due to the overabundance of part-time and contractual employees in service businesses.
Vocabulary:
shortage – [noun] a state where there is not enough of something that is needed
undermine – [undermine] to make something weak or less effective usually in a secret or gradual way
consecutive – [adjective] following one after the other in order
predicament – [noun] difficult situation
sabotage – [noun] the act of destroying or damaging something deliberately so it does not work correctly
True or False:
- Japan’s apparent aging and decreasing population is causing the greatest shortages of manpower for labor-intensive sectors.
- Industries like hotels, restaurants, and elderly care facilities are more capable of offering competitive wages as they hit lowest on productivity per employee.
- Also, the elderly care system is undermined by government efforts that set the compensation up.
- In 2015, the average monthly wages in Japan fell for the fifth consecutive year.
- The central bank’s target for the average monthly wage increase is 1% for 2016, but the labor ministry data records an increase of only 2% in September.
Defend your argument:
- Japan’s apparent aging and decreasing population is causing the greatest shortages of manpower for labor-intensive sectors.
- Japan should hire more laborers from other countries.
- If you were an owner of a company affected by this shortage of manpower, how would you deal with this problem?
Express your opinion:
- Labor shortage is not a serious issue.
- “The three most harmful addictions are heroin, carbohydrates, and a monthly salary.” ― Nassim Nicholas Taleb
- Share your thought about this quote: “Retirement, a time to do what you want to do, when you want to do it, where you want to do it, and how you want to do it.” – Catherine Pulsifer