When do working mothers use after-school care? "During school summer breaks, etc." cited by 30%

A survey by "Shufu JOB Research Institute" (operated by B-style Co., Ltd., headquartered in Shinjuku, Tokyo; President: Kunihiko Mihara), which explores the realities and true feelings of housewives and househusbands who wish to balance work and family, conducted a questionnaire survey on women with children who have employment aspirations, with the theme of "Use of After-School Care." The results are reported below. (Valid responses: 294)

Survey Results Overview

1. Experience of attempting to enroll children in after-school care: "Yes" 46.3%

2. Finding after-school care was "easy": 68.4% / Comparison by number of children

3. How after-school care is used: "Almost every weekday" 74.6% / Comparison by number of children

4. From free comments

1. Experience of attempting to enroll children in after-school care: "Yes" 46.3%

2. Finding after-school care was "easy": 68.4% / Comparison by number of children

3. How after-school care is used: "Almost every weekday" 74.6% / Comparison by number of children

4. From free comments

◇Excerpts from Free Comments (Age: Employment Status)

- It was located on school grounds, and everyone could use it easily, which was great (40s: Part-time/アルバイト)

- I'm worried if my child can spend time safely and securely (50s: Part-time/アルバイト)

- It was a great help, especially when the children were in the lower grades, to be able to spend their after-school hours under the watchful eye of trusted adults (40s: Full-time employee)

- I want to have them looked after only during long breaks like summer vacation. I would also appreciate it if they could look after them for a whole day on short notice (40s: Part-time/アルバイト)

- It's fine if the child enjoys it, but if they have school and then after-school care, they might get tired (30s: Not currently working)

- First graders have their own will, and my child absolutely refused to go. Children with older siblings don't go to after-school care even in first grade, and they said they wanted to go home freely, eat snacks, and play games with friends. I feel sorry for them going to school during long holidays too (50s: Contract employee)

- I worry about leaving them with others. Recent news has reported child abuse and sexual abuse, so I can't trust people even if I want to leave them with someone (40s: Part-time/アルバイト)

- I think interacting with children from different grades is a good experience (60s: Part-time/アルバイト)

- I have to help out at after-school care for a whole day during summer vacation (40s: Full-time employee)

- I think it's a great system, but when I went to after-school care, the environment was very dangerous, and there were many injuries within the facility (40s: Not currently working)

- It's great that they can look after children on holidays, and as a parent, I can work with peace of mind knowing they aren't home alone (40s: Part-time/アルバイト)

- It would be good if children of non-working parents could also be enrolled (60s: Temporary staff)

- It was located within the school, so I could entrust them with peace of mind (50s: Part-time/アルバイト)

- I want those who need it to be able to enroll. I want them to be able to look after children until the evening so I can work with peace of mind. I also want the staff to have better benefits (50s: Temporary staff)

- I don't understand why after-school care is paid when it's free until elementary school enrollment. Nurseries are for working parents who need to work or care for family, and after-school care is for similar parents. Why is that? (40s: Part-time/アルバイト)

- With so many dual-income households now, I think after-school care is essential. However, children are often anxious at first, so if there was an environment where their mental well-being was properly looked after, I could entrust them with peace of mind (50s: Freelancer/Self-employed)

- I think it's very good, but I didn't use it because I wanted to spend as much time with my children as possible (40s: Part-time/アルバイト)

- I don't want to work to the point of needing to use after-school care (50s: Part-time/アルバイト)

- I used it during long holidays and it was a great help. Summer vacation is excessively long, and I felt the burden on families with children who don't use after-school care was immense (especially for lower grades). Packing lunches, etc., was a bit of a hassle (40s: Not currently working)

- In an era of declining birthrates, I question the reality of there being no openings (50s: Part-time/アルバイト)

- It's helpful for working people. It would be even more helpful if they could accept children early in the morning (50s: Not currently working)

- I'm currently in nursery school and will be moving to after-school care. I've heard the competition is high in this area, so I'm worried if I can even get in. If I need to arrange transportation, I don't know what to do... I understand why they call it the "first-grade wall" (30s: Full-time employee)

- It's better than waiting for a single parent to return home (60s: Part-time/アルバイト)

From Keitaro Kawakami, Research Advisor, Shufu JOB Research Institute

After-school care is as important as childcare for balancing parenting and work. When asked among women with children who have employment aspirations whether finding after-school care was difficult, nearly 70% answered that it was "easy." On the other hand, 6.0% answered that it was "very difficult," and this proportion increased to 7.1% for those with two or more children. While the proportion of people struggling to find after-school care is not large, there appears to be a clear difference between those who struggle and those who do not.

Furthermore, in response to the question "Please tell us how you use after-school care," the largest number of respondents, 74.6%, answered "Use almost every weekday." This was followed by "Use during long school breaks such as summer and winter holidays" at 29.1%. With dual-income households accounting for 70% of the total, it seems that many people feel reassured by the availability of after-school care when children are left alone at home while parents are working during long school breaks. Comparing by the number of children, those with two or more children appear to have a higher need for limited use, such as temporary care. As the older children get a bit older, they may be able to spend short periods alone after school until parents return home, while the need for limited use on days when parents are away all day for work may increase. Although there are various opinions about after-school care from the free comments, it is evident that there is a strong demand. As the proportion of dual-income households continues to rise, the need for the enhancement of after-school care, similar to childcare facilities, is likely to increase.

Keitaro Kawakami, Research Advisor, Shufu JOB Research Institute Profile

Born in Tsu City, Mie Prefecture in 1973. After graduating from the Faculty of Letters at Aichi University, he worked in management positions at a major human resources service company and as Department Manager and Editorial Committee Member of the Sales Promotion Department at the industry-specific magazine "Monthly Human Resources Business." He joined B-style Co., Ltd. (then) in 2010. The following year, he established the research organization "Shufu JOB Research Institute" and became its director. To date, he has surveyed and analyzed the voices of over 50,000 individuals, primarily housewives and househusbands who wish to balance work and family, and has distributed over 300 reports. He became independent in 2021 and, in addition to his current role, works as a work style researcher, writing explanatory articles, giving lectures, and advising on public relations and branding activities.

He is involved in writing explanatory articles, giving lectures, and advising on public relations and branding activities.

His practical experience spans over 20 years in human resources services, including temporary staffing, placement, and outsourcing. In his roles as an executive and manager, he has overseen a wide range of areas from the front lines of business operations, such as sales, new business development, public relations and branding, corporate planning, and human resources, to management departments. He makes recommendations on a wide range of employment and labor issues, from human resource management to legal regulations, through numerous media appearances.

He is the father of quadruplets, including twins, and is a兼業主夫 (working husband and househusband).

Facebook Page: Editor-in-Chief of "Hito Labo" (2011~) / Facebook Group: Host of "Association for the Public Development of Human Resources Services" (2016~) / Part-time Auditor, Subarushinsa Hyoka Kiko Co., Ltd. / Member, Japan Labor Association

◇Committees, etc. Member, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare commissioned project review committee

"Review Committee for Promoting Women's Return to Work Utilizing the Know-how of Private Human Resources Service Providers" (FY2017-2018)

"Program Development Committee" for the "Education and Training Development Project to Contribute to Career Formation and Productivity Improvement for Workers, etc." (FY2017-2019)

Member, Dispatch Business Operations Support Department, Japan Association for Temporary Staffing Services (FY2008-2009, 2012), Cabinet Office Regulatory Reform Council

Working Group Study Session (FY2014), etc.

◇Media Appearances: NHK "Asaichi" commentary, TV Asahi "Beat Takeshi's TV Tackle" panelist, Fuji TV "Minna no News: Fukabori" commentary, and numerous other TV appearances, as well as comments in radio, newspapers, magazines, and business-oriented web media.

◇Writing and Other: Serialized articles "Mitori-zu of Work Styles" on IT Media / Serialized articles "The Future of Work Styles" on JBpress, etc. Numerous articles and contributions to Nikkei, Nikkei MJ, Jiji Press, BUSINESS INSIDER JAPAN, President Online, J-CAST News Biz, etc. Also serves as a moderator for lectures and panel discussions at universities, local governments, and gender equality centers.

Survey Overview

Survey Method: Internet research (anonymous)

Number of Valid Responses: 294 *Women with children only

Survey Period: May 18, 2026 (Mon) - May 31, 2026 (Sun)

Target Respondents: B-style Smart Career registrants / "Shufu JOB" job site registrants

*If you wish to interview Keitaro Kawakami, Research Advisor, regarding this release, please contact Public Relations (B-style Holdings Public Relations [email protected])

<About Shufu JOB Research Institute>

Established in 2011 with the aspiration: "We want to create a society where more women can thrive, regardless of life events such as marriage and childbirth."

This institute regularly conducts surveys, such as questionnaires, and disseminates the results to society in order to increase societal understanding of the desirable balance between lifestyle and work, and to create more workplaces where not only women but everyone can work easily.

*Past survey results can be found here ⇒ https://www.bstylegroup.co.jp/news/shufu-job/

*Shufu JOB Research Institute has deposited past survey data with the University of Tokyo SSJDA ⇒ http://bit.ly/2n8jHIJ

<About B-style Group>

With the purpose of "Creating value that fits the times," we strive to solve societal problems and inconveniences of the times through innovative businesses. Since our founding, we have focused on human resources services such as "Shufu JOB," which has created employment for over 200,000 housewives, and "Smart Career," which realizes diverse work styles and high careers. We are also working on business automation support, aiming to achieve our vision of "Happiness for all involved."