待機児童、初の３０００人割れ　前年比半減で４年連続最少―厚労省

　厚生労働省は３０日、認可保育所などに入所できない待機児童数が、４月１日時点で前年比５２．３％（２６９０人）減の２９４４人だったと発表した。１９９４年の調査開始以来、３０００人を下回るのは初めて。最も多かった２０１７年（２万６０８１人）の１割強（１１．３％）に激減し、４年連続で過去最少を更新した。
　政府が取り組んできた保育の受け皿拡大に加え、少子化の加速で就学前人口が想定以上に減少。新型コロナウイルス感染拡大による利用控えも続き、待機児童の大幅減につながった。
　保育所などの利用児童数は初めて減少。出生数の減少に伴い、申込者数も減少した。ただ、２５～４４歳の女性の就業率は上昇傾向にあり、今後保育ニーズが増える可能性もある。
　同省は待機児童の早期解消に向け、２１～２４年度の４年間で新たに約１４万人分の受け皿整備を推進している。企業主導型などを含めた保育の受け皿は、今年４月時点で前年から約３万２０００人分増え、約３２２万７０００人分となった。（2022/08/30-11:43）

A survey by Japan's welfare ministry showed Tuesday that the number of children on nursery waiting lists in the country as of April 1 plunged 52.3 pct from a year earlier to 2,944, standing below 3,000 for the first time since the survey started in 1994.
   The figure was only 11.3 pct of the record high of 26,081, set in 2017, and marked a record low for the fourth consecutive year.
   The drastic decrease reflected a larger-than-expected drop in the number of preschool children amid the country's declining birthrate, as well as the government's efforts to expand daycare options. The spread of the novel coronavirus also discouraged the use of nurseries.
   The number of children enrolled at nurseries or other daycare facilities fell for the first time, the survey also showed. In line with a decline in the number of births, the number of nursery applicants also dropped.
   Still, given the rising employment rate among women aged 25-44, demand for daycare facilities could increase in the near future, observers said.