FUKUSHIMA—Nearly 70 percent of temporary housing unit residents in Fukushima Prefecture, who were working before the March 11 disaster, have not been able to get jobs since, according to a prefectural government survey.

The survey results showed many became unemployed because of the nuclear crisis.

Pollees voiced strong concerns about securing work in the future.

The survey looked at about 10,000 households living in temporary housing units in the prefecture from Sept. 10 to 18. Of those polled, 6,468 responded.

The results showed 71.6 percent of surveyed households had a breadwinner before the disaster, but after the disaster the percentage dropped to 33.1 percent.

The prefectural government said there were many cases where people were dismissed after the disaster, as their workplaces ceased operating in areas where entry was banned or restricted.

In some cases, those in the agricultural, forestry and fisheries sectors were unable to work.

By region, the unemployed numbers were higher among people from towns and villages wholly or partly inside the no-entry zone or expanded evacuation zones.

About 20 percent of surveyed households had received unemployment insurance benefits.

Currently, 41.8 percent cited pensions, 11.5 percent savings and 7.2 percent unemployment insurance benefits as their main source of income.

Regarding work, 62.9 percent of the pollees under 65 want to get jobs and 57 percent want to work full-time.

Among those who indicated they did not want to work, about 60 percent said they were too old, and about 10 percent said it was difficult for them to do anything as their future is uncertain.

Yomiuri Shimbun , October 22, 2011
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T111021005665.htm

Workforce in Eastern Japan Falls for 7^th Straight Month

Tokyo, Oct. 19 (Jiji Press)—The eastern Japan regions of Tohoku and Kanto saw an overall loss of jobs for the seventh straight month in August, reflecting the lingering impact of the March 11 disaster, labor ministry data showed Wednesday.

The combined workforce in the regions that include Tokyo fell 3.0 pct from a year earlier to 11.03 million.

The number of full-time jobs dropped 3.1 pct, while the figure for part-time jobs declined 2.7 pct.

In the rest of the country, the number of jobs rose 2.2 pct to 15.16 million, up for the seventh straight month.

Full-time jobs increased 2.3 pct, while part-time ones jumped 2.0 pct. Working hours per employee turned upward.

Jiji Press, October 19, 2011
http://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=eco&k=2011101900664