Abstract
The report begins with a comparative analysis of socio-economic situations before and after the 2011 disaster. It provides a comprehensive overview of the institutional framework of recovery measures initiated by the government of Japan. It details pre-disaster employment policies which were utilized in the 2011 disaster response. The report then details post-disaster policy measures including the national programme and local-level initiatives for employment protection and livelihood recovery. The report then looks at innovative recovery efforts by private initiatives. The report concludes with lessons from Japan and recommendations on how to place employment in the centre of a reconstruction process.