ess of industry/economic sector and regardless of skill level, however, female workers received dramatically lower wages than male workers on average. As a general rule, the average wage for female workers, regardless of industry/economic sector, is higher as a proportion of the average wage for male workers for very young workers and for very old workers than for workers at the height of earning power in the 50-to-54 year old age group. The apparent explanation for this pattern of gender-related wage differentials is the functioning of the so-called "glass ceiling" phenomenon in the Japanese economy. Generally also, female workers fare better in relation to the proportion of the average wage in relation to the average for male workers in those industries and/or economic sectors that tend to pay the lowest average wages, such as wholesale and retail trade. The apparent explanation for this outcome is that low average wages in these industries and sectors, coupled with a Japan
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