Chart 1 Employment Introduction of QQE Before QQE After QQE Regular employees +1.1% Non-regular employees +1.5%(annualized)+2.4% 10 实图8S甚8器8 Number of regular employees( both sexes) +Number of non-regular employees(both sexes) Rate of non-regular employees(both sexes, right scale) Note: Regular employees and non-regular employees exclude executives of companies and corporations. The figures for"Before QQE"and"After QQE"show the annualized growth rates of employees from 2008/Q1 to 2013/Q1 and those from 2013/Q1 to 2018/Q4 ource: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, "Labour Force Survey Improvements in Employment of women and the elderly Chart 2 shows that the employment of both women and the elderly ( those aged 65 years and over)has been growing. Nevertheless, despite women's entry into the labor market, most women work part-time, and I am well aware of the criticism that there are few women in top positions in Japan. According to the World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Index(2018), which measures the degree of gender equality, Japan ranks only 1 loth among 149 countries. However, some progress is being made. As can be seen in Chart 2, the number of women in regular employment has been increasing. Moreover, the proportion of women who are non-regular employees, which had been rising, has remained flat since the start of QQE. This means that the number of women gaining experience at work and2 Improvements in Employment of Women and the Elderly Chart 2 shows that the employment of both women and the elderly (those aged 65 years and over) has been growing. Nevertheless, despite women's entry into the labor market, most women work part-time, and I am well aware of the criticism that there are few women in top positions in Japan. According to the World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Index (2018), which measures the degree of gender equality, Japan ranks only 110th among 149 countries. However, some progress is being made. As can be seen in Chart 2, the number of women in regular employment has been increasing. Moreover, the proportion of women who are non-regular employees, which had been rising, has remained flat since the start of QQE. This means that the number of women gaining experience at work and 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 Feb. 1984 Feb. 86 Feb. 88 Feb. 90 Feb. 92 Feb. 94 Feb. 96 Feb. 98 Aug. 99 Aug. 2000 Aug. 01 02/Q2 02/Q4 03/Q2 03/Q4 04/Q2 04/Q4 05/Q2 05/Q4 06/Q2 06/Q4 07/Q2 07/Q4 08/Q2 08/Q4 09/Q2 09/Q4 10/Q2 10/Q4 11/Q2 11/Q4 12/Q2 12/Q4 13/Q2 13/Q4 14/Q2 14/Q4 15/Q2 15/Q4 16/Q2 16/Q4 17/Q2 17/Q4 18/Q2 18/Q4 Number of regular employees (both sexes) Number of non-regular employees (both sexes) Rate of non-regular employees (both sexes, right scale) mil. persons Before QQE After QQE Regular employees -0.6% (annualized) +1.1% Non-regular employees +1.5% (annualized) +2.4% Introduction of QQE % Note: Regular employees and non-regular employees exclude executives of companies and corporations. The figures for "Before QQE" and "After QQE" show the annualized growth rates of employees from 2008/Q1 to 2013/Q1 and those from 2013/Q1 to 2018/Q4, respectively. Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, "Labour Force Survey." Chart 1 Employment