University of Tokyo

Abstract
Survey Number 0559
Survey Title The Questionnaire Survey on Work and Life of Workers, 2007.4
Depositor JTUC Research Institute for Advancement of Living Standards
(Former Name:Research Institute for Advancement of Living Standards)
Restriction of Use For detailed information, please refer to 'For Data Users' at SSJDA website.

- Apply to SSJDA. SSJDA's approval required.
Educational Purpose Available for both research and instructional purposes.
Period of Data Use Permission One year
Access to Datasets Download
SSJDA Data Analysis Not available
Summary This survey, “The Questionnaire Survey on Work and Life of Workers,” aims to clarify economic, employment, and living trends as seen from the perspective of workers and to obtain basic information with which to consider policy issues from the perspective of improving employment and quality of life. This is done by periodically exploring workers’ attitudes toward economic trends in Japan and their current state of work and living.

The survey has been conducted regularly in April and October of every year since the first survey in April 2001, and this is the 13th survey. In the 10th survey (October 2005), fixed-point survey items were revised, survey subjects were expanded to include people in their early 60s, and some other improvements were made. This survey reflects changes that were made then. All previous surveys are archived in the SSJDA.

In Japan, the economic recovery phase has entered its sixth year, deflation has been overcome, and an exit from the “lost 15 years” since the collapse of the economic bubble is finally in sight, with corporate earnings in a good condition. However, from the viewpoint of workers’ daily lives and work, the feeling of economic recovery remains scarce.

The survey items on this occasion comprise: (1) fixed-point survey items related to awareness regarding the economy, work, and life; (2) topic survey items related to 1. the current state and consciousness about the way of working, 2. politics and elections.
Data Type quantitative research
quantitative research: micro data
Universe Private company employees in their 20s to early 60s who live in the Greater Tokyo Area and Kansai region
Unit of Observation Individual
Sample Size
Number of questionnaires distributed│     All respondents│      Employed
                         │ Valid responses  Valid response rate │Valid responses  Valid response rate
“In 20s to 50s”  900        │   775        86.1% │  738         82.0%
“In early 60s”   200        │  179         82.0% │ 160           80.0%

Although this survey targets “employees working at private companies,” the sample contains some respondents who are not employees, owing to a change in their employment status from the time they registered for the access panel and the time the survey was conducted. 37 of the respondents “in their 20s to 50s” and 19 “in their early 60s” in the current survey fall under this category of non-employees. The survey results of only employed people were analyzed. 
Date of Collection 2007-03-31 ~ 2007-04-10
2007/03/31 (Sat) - 04/10 (Tue)
Time Period 2007 ~ 2007
Spatial Unit kanto
kinki
The Greater Tokyo Area Kansai region
“In 20s to 50s”    65.4%   34.6%
“In early 60s”   62.5%   37.5%
Sampling Procedure Other
In order to gain a sufficient sample for those in their early 60s, the sampling rate was almost four times the rate used for those in their 20s to 50s.

(1) 20s to 50s:
The sample allocation criteria were prepared, taking into account the population size of private employees in the Greater Tokyo Area and Kansai region, as well as the distribution of employees by gender, age group, and employment status of the “2002 (Heisei 14) Employment Status Survey.” Based on these allocation criteria, 582 people living in the Greater Tokyo Area and 318 people living in Kansai region (900 people in total) were extracted from the access panel of INTAGE Inc. (approximately 240,000 people nationwide).

(2) Early 60s:
For private-sector employees in aged “60 to 64 years” in the “2002 Employment Status Survey,” the sample distribution criteria were prepared in consideration of distribution by gender and employment status in the Greater Tokyo Area and Kansai region. In accordance with these distribution criteria, a total of 200 residents in the Greater Tokyo Area/Kansai region were sampled from among the INTAGE Inc. access panelists (approximately 240,000 people nationwide).
Mode of Data Collection Self-administered questionnaire: Paper
Questionnaires for self-administered mail survey were distributed

Data in the analysis are summarized separately for those in their 20s to 50s and those in their early 60s, owing the differences in sampling method for these two groups as outlined above. In the report, the survey of those in their early 60s is treated only as a reference, and the summary values in the survey pertain only to employees in their 20s to 50s.
Investigator Research Institute for Advancement of Living Standards, survey carried out by INTAGE Inc.
DOI 10.34500/SSJDA.0559
Sponsors (Funds)
Related Publications (by the Investigator) Questionnaire
Related Publications (based on Secondary Analysis) List of related publications (based on Secondary Analysis)
Documentation
Major Survey Items Questionnaire items:

 <Fixed-point survey>
(1) Economic trends and business situation at place of employment
Current Japanese economy compared with one year ago, reasons for feeling the economic climate is good or bad, Japanese economic forecast one year later, work status, current business situation at the place of employment (performance) (comparison with one year ago/forecast for one year hence), increase or decrease in number of employees compared to one year ago (regular employees/non-regular employees), increase or decrease in actual working hours compared with one year ago, anxiety about becoming unemployed in one year

(2) Income, consumption and living conditions
Increase or decrease in personal wage income (comparison with one year ago/forecast one year later), increase or decrease in household income (comparison with one year ago/forecast one year later), increase or decrease in total household consumption (comparison with one year ago/ forecast one year later), income and expenditure of entire household in the past year, sense of fluctuation in prices (comparison with one year ago/ forecast one year later)

(3) Evaluation of work and life
Things respondent considers important about work, evaluation of work at the place of employment (11 items),
characteristics of work and degree of discretion (10 items),time allocation for work and non-work activities, whether respondent wants to work for a different company/reasons, satisfaction level with work, satisfaction level with life in general, health condition

(4) Labor union
Existence of labor union, affiliation to a union, intention of becoming a union member, whether a union is necessary


<Topics survey>

(5) Current state and consciousness about the way of working
Subjective symptoms related to fatigue, recognition of labor rights and system, desirable minimum wage level, inequality among employees in the workplace (comparison with five years ago/desirable way in the future).

(6) Political consciousness and voting behavior
1. Support for political parties and the Cabinet, interest in politics:
Political party currently supported, support for the Abe Cabinet, attention to political affairs
2. Election of House of Representatives in 2005:
Voting behavior, political party voted for (single-seat electoral district/proportionally represented district)
3. House of Councillors election in July 2007:
Voting plan, political party respondent will most likely vote for/reasons for voting, main issues in the House of Councillors election
4. Perspective on political parties using public endorsement from famous people/celebrities
5. Awareness of parties’ manifestos


Face items:
Gender, age, marital status, spouse’s work situation, spouse’s employment status, spouse’s actual working hours per week, number of children, age of youngest child, presence of a family member in need of nursing care, highest level of educational attainment, actual working hours per week, personal wage annual income, form of wage, amount of hourly wage, household income, financial provider in the household, industry type of employer, size by number of employees, occupation type, years of employment

In addition, the access panel registration information was used for area of residence, household composition, type of residence, and number of years of residence
Date of Release 2008/02/05
Topics in CESSDA Click here for details

Economic conditions and indicators
Employment
Labour relations/conflict
Working conditions
Political behaviour and attitudes
Topics in SSJDA Employment/Labor
Society/Culture
Version 1 : 2008-02-05
Notes for Users Variable and value labels are written in Japanese.