1 in 3 women living alone in poverty

One in three Japanese women in the 20 to 64 age group is living alone in poverty, a study said Wednesday. The study by the National Institute of Population and Social Security research said for men, the ratio is one in four in the same age category, Kyodo News reported. "Women's status in the workplace is low, and they are more likely to be in poverty (than men)," institute official Aya Abe said. The institute designates those earning less than half the national median disposable income of 1.12 million yen ($14,445) annually are deemed to be living in poverty. The study said 32 percent of the women and 25 percent of the men in the 20-64 age group in are currently living alone. The study also showed 48 percent of single-mother families with children younger than 19 also are living in poverty. "There has been poverty even among young males recently," Abe said. "The government needs to take employment measures particularly for young people."