Reconstruction of a Marine Product Processing Industry and of Regional Employment from East Japan Great Disaster

The Case of Kamaishi and Ohtuchi

Abstract

After the Great Disaster 3.11, the marine product processing industry in Iwate Prefecture, which is one of the basic industries in the coastal area, has been suffering from a female labor shortage in the workplace. This situation brings questions regarding the potential for the industry to persist in the future. This paper analyzes the characteristics of this partial labor market by means of examining the real state of the relationship between the industry and the local community. At the same time, from the viewpoint of the vital statistics of local population, a set of policies is discussed to secure human resources for the industry.