Middle-aged and older adults viewed household chores as something to be shared fairly, but implementation was found to be slow
Changes in family perceptions among middle-aged and older adults; the priorities of housework and work have changed over the past 10 years Take a quick look at the trends toward fair division of labor and preparation for old age
In a survey released on the 21st by the National Data Office, it was found that perceptions of family and work among middleaged adults aged 40 to 64 have changed significantly over the past 10 years. The share of respondents saying that housework should be divided equally between spouses rose to 64.4% in 2024, up 26.5 percentage points from 2014.
The change was especially notable among people in their 40s, and the approval rate among women was higher than among men. However, the proportion who said they actually share housework equally stood at only 22.1%, showing that changes in awareness have not fully translated into everyday practice.
Priorities between work and family have also shifted. The number of respondents who said they “prioritize work” declined, while those who said they value work and family similarly or prioritize family more increased. In leisure, there was strong preference for sightseeing and hobbies, but in reality watching videos and resting were the most common activities.
In addition, job insecurity among middleaged adults still exceeded half, and the proportion naming the National Pension as a means of preparing for old age increased. Awareness also grew that caring for aging parents should be the responsibility not only of family members, but also of the government and society.