Japanese women in their twenties are more than twice as likely to take extended sick leave than men in the same age group, according to a new study. The findings have raised concerns about the need to consider both gender and age when addressing long-term sick leave.
The research, conducted by the Japan Institute for Health Security, examined sick leave records from 2012 to 2021. It covered about 100,000 employees working for companies based in east-central Japan. Researchers, including Yukari Taniyama, analyzed data by sex, age, a
nd the reasons behind sick leave that lasted more than 30 days.
In total, 6,518 male employees and 1,866 female employees took long-term sick leave during the study period. But when the numbers were adjusted per 10,000 workers, women had a higher rate of 115.5 cases, compared to 89.2 for men.
The gap was most significant among workers in their twenties. Women in this group had a rate of 176.6 cases per 10,000 workers, while men had just 83.8.
Mental health issues, including depression and anxiety, were the most common reasons for long-term sick leave among both men and women. However, the number of mental health cases decreased with age. Women in their thirties to fifties also reported more sick leave due to musculoskeletal diseases and injuries than men in the same age groups. But they were less likely to take leave for circulatory problems such as strokes or heart attacks.
“Women generally have a higher incidence of long-term sick leave than men,” said Taniyama. “Gender and age differences must be taken into account when treating and preventing diseases that cause sick leave.”
Japan’s intense work culture has long been associated with long hours and personal sacrifice. According to government data reported by The Yomiuri newspaper, a record 883 employees were officially recognized in 2023 as suffering from work-related mental health conditions. This marked an increase of 173 cases compared to the previous year. Among these, 79 involved suicides or suicide attempts.
In addition, 216 workers were diagnosed with work-related brain or heart conditions in 2023. This was the first time in four years that the number had surpassed 200.
Despite these challenges, younger workers in Japan are beginning to resist the traditional culture of overwork. A report by the Recruit Works Institute noted that the average number of working hours per year in Japan fell by 11.6 percent—from 1,839 hours in 2000 to 1,626 in 2022. The sharpest decline was seen among men in their twenties.
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