Only around half of the 47 prefectures have set numerical targets for promoting female employees and most fall below Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's goal of raising the proportion of women in leadership positions to 30 percent by 2020, according to a survey released Monday.

All 47 governors replied to the Kyodo News survey in October and November. Twenty-four said their prefectural governments had set numerical targets, while in Tokyo Gov. Yoichi Masuzoe said the capital would soon launch a goal of 20 percent.

The other 22 governors said their prefectural governments were still considering the matter.