A public opinion poll by the Cabinet Office on Saturday showed a rise in support for women working outside the home, a favorable result for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe who is trying to increase women’s participation in the country’s workforce.

Nearly a majority, or 49.4 percent, of respondents expressed opposition to the notion that husbands should work outside while wives should stay home to do housework, up 4.3 percentage points from the previous survey in 2012.

People opposing the notion outweighed those in favor, which numbered 44.6 percent, down 7.0 points.

In the previous survey, the opposing side was outnumbered for the first time in 15 years and those supporting the notion increased for the first time since the survey on gender equality began in 1992.

Cabinet Office officials hinted that the previous survey’s result may have been a temporary move affected by the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami, which led many to reconfirm the importance of family ties.

Supporters of the notion accounted for larger proportions among elderly age brackets than other generations. The notion was supported by 53.6 percent of the respondents aged 70 or older and 45.7 percent of those in their 60s.

Among the female respondents, support came from 43.2 percent against 51.6 percent who expressed opposition. The male respondents were evenly split between the two sides at 46.5 percent.

Of the total supporters, the biggest proportion, or 59.4 percent, backed the reason that it is better for children that mothers stay home, with multiple choices allowed, followed by 37.3 percent who agreed that it is hard for women to work outside and take care of their children and aged family members at the same time.