The number of unemployed was 3.15 million (seasonally unadjusted), and if figures are added for the hidden unemployed – who are willing to work but not actively seeking a job – the total number of unemployed amounts to about 7.53 million.1 To promote growth of the economy, new job openings must be created to accommodate these unemployed people, in addition to more women and the elderly.
In view of the current imbalance between supply and demand of goods and services, with demand falling short of supply, it is necessary to respond to the changing social structure and create demand by replacing old products and services with new ones. The structure of consumption, or spending patterns, has also changed largely reflecting the population aging with fewer children.