With the output gap remaining positive, firms have continued to undertake laborsaving investment, mainly through the use of information technology. Furthermore, they have proceeded with working-style reforms and other initiatives that reflect demographic changes and the considerably tight labor market conditions. Steady progress has also been made in achieving diversity in the labor force, through the hiring of women, seniors, and foreign workers.
As managers and workers have become aware of the need for greater efficiency and productivity, an increasing number of firms have been working to this end, not only in manufacturing, but also mainly in the administrative field, where robotic process automation (RPA) has been introduced.