A Statistical Comparative Study of the Working Poor in Japan and Canada

Abstract

<b>Problem statement:</b> Recently in Japan, there has been an increase in the group which is&#13; termed the ‘Working Poor’. However, the group’s size and configuration remains unknown.&#13; <b>Approach:</b> The purpose of this study is to compare the working poor in Canada and Japan using&#13; microdata. First, the definition and method of estimation of the working poor provided by (Iwai and&#13; Murakami, 2007) are provided along with later modifications. Second, results of the investigation into&#13; data appropriate for use in estimating Canada’s working poor and poverty line are given, as are&#13; estimates of Canada’s working poor. Last, the characteristics of unemployment, unstable employment&#13; and the labor market are examined for both Canada and Japan and the similarities and differences&#13; between the two countries are highlighted. <b>Results:</b> In Canada and Japan, the working poor are most&#13; likely to be found among the young, those with a low level of education, those in unstable employment&#13; or those working in a company having few employees. As regards the differences between the two&#13; countries, males are more likely to be the working poor than females in Canada, though this trend is&#13; not seen in Japan; moreover, the percentage of the working poor is high among the 25-34 and 35-44&#13; age groups in Japan, though this is not the case in Canada. <b>Conclusion:</b> As conclusions of this study,&#13; the first challenge that lies ahead is to find data from the two countries that allows a more rigorous&#13; comparison. The second challenge is to re-evaluate estimates made to date after a full investigation of&#13; labor market systems. Statistical Analysis Research Project (2009), we have estimated the working&#13; poor of the UK and compared their figures with those of Japan. The third challenge is thus to add the&#13; findings of this study to those from the UK/Japan and thereby perform a trilateral comparison