REGIONAL DIFFERENCES IN THE LABOR SUPPLY OF MARRIED FEMALE GRADUATES: WHY IS IT LOWER IN THE METROPOLITAN AREAS OF JAPAN?

This study investigates the determinants of the lower employment rate of married female graduates in the metropolitan areas (MAs) of Japan compared to the rate in non‐MAs using Employment Status Survey data from 1992, 1997, and 2002. The results show that the type of employment available in non‐MAs is more conducive to employment tenure. During the study period, married female graduates attained longer employment in full‐time specialized and technical jobs, such as teaching, in non‐MAs. In MAs, a larger proportion of married female graduates worked in clerical jobs, sales, or in specialized and technical jobs (e.g. doctors or uncategorized jobs), which have lower job continuity than teaching jobs. This study concludes, therefore, that employment composition is at least one of the determinants of the lower employment rate of married female graduates in MAs.