[Survey on 'Working Awareness' Commemorating Housewife Haiku 2026] 'Living Expenses' Top Reason for Working, While 'Ease of Work' Prioritized in Job Selection; About Half Consider Changing Work Style Due to ¥1.3M Income Threshold Reform in April 2026
For housewives and househusbands, the primary reason for working is living expenses, yet ease of work is the top priority in job selection, and about half are considering adjusting their work style in response to the upcoming income threshold policy change.
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- 📰 Published: March 30, 2026 at 00:30
Bestyle Media Co., Ltd. (headquartered in Shinjuku, Tokyo; President: Kiyofumi Ishibashi), which operates the job listing site 'Shufu JOB' under the Bestyle Group, conducted a survey on 'working awareness' targeting housewives and househusbands who wish to balance work and family life, in conjunction with the 'Shufu JOB Presents Shufu Haiku 2026' event. (Valid responses: 768) The results, along with selected haiku submissions reflecting the times, are reported below.
■ Survey Results Overview
1. ¥1.3M Income Threshold Policy Change in April 2026 — About Half Are Considering or Have Already Changed Their Work Style
"Working and working, staring down the wall" (Kashireriba, female, 71)
2. 'Living Expenses' Top Reason for Working — Maintaining Livelihood, Improving Quality of Life, and Saving for the Future Also Rank High
"Overtime pay, into NISA it goes, then more overtime" (Golden Heart, male, 28)
3. Top Conditions in Job Selection: 'Working Hours/Days' 90.0%, 'Commute Location' 86.2% — Ease-of-Work Factors Dominate
"Top priority: ease of work — everything else comes second" (Arika, female, 42)
4. Household Finances: 62.0% Say 'Tight and Struggling' — Over 70% Among Those in Their 20s and 30s
"Rising wages, outpaced already, by soaring prices" (Henoheno, male, 35)
5. Workplace Challenges Vary Greatly by Age Group — Child-Rearing Generation Struggles with Work-Life Balance; Those 50+ Face Age-Based Hiring Barriers
"Willing to work, but what's missing is a nursery spot" (Anman, female, 30)
6. Hardest Things to Balance with Work: 'Meal Preparation' 56.9%, 'Cleaning' 38.5% — Everyday Household Chores Top the List
"A thousand jobs — housework's countless, nameless tasks" (Middle-aged Yamame, male, 78)
※ The haiku featured are primarily nominated works from 'Shufu Haiku 2026,' with some general submissions included.
1. ¥1.3M Income Threshold Policy Change in April 2026 — About Half Are Considering or Have Already Changed Their Work Style
Regarding work style changes in response to the ¥1.3M income threshold reform, 6.6% said they had 'already made changes' and 18.8% said they 'plan to make changes in the future,' totaling 25.4%. Adding those who said they 'want to make changes but have no concrete plans yet' (24.7%), approximately half of respondents are considering or have already changed their work style due to the policy reform.
▼ From 'Shufu Haiku 2026' submissions
· Working at a loss? Staring down the income wall
· Walls everywhere — which income wall do I guard?
· Within the dependent limit — punching the calculator, scheduling shifts
Additionally, a survey by Shufu JOB Research Institute found that 33.2% of respondents said they do not fully understand the income threshold system, suggesting that even with the policy change, awareness of the details may still be insufficient.
Shufu JOB Research Institute Survey: Back to Newsroom (35)