Topic for Oct 24(Mon)

[Kristin55]

45% of Japanese Companies Interested in Hiring Foreigners

Over 45% of Japanese companies say they are interested in hiring foreign staff, according to a survey conducted by Zenken — a technology consulting firm that also recruits foreign staff for Japanese businesses.

In August 2022, Zenken conducted a survey of personnel managers at 200 Japanese companies about the hiring of foreign staff. The companies represented a mixture of industries including manufacturing, insurance, communications, retail, education, health care and general services.

Of these companies, 42.5% had fewer than 500 employees, 15.5% had between 500 and 1,000, and 42% had over 1,000.

In the survey, 45.5% of companies said they were interested in hiring foreign personnel, 35% were not interested and 19.5% said "neither."

When companies interested in hiring foreigners were asked why, a clear majority of 68.1% said it was to secure talented personnel. Additional reasons given were a need for foreign language skills, staff shortages, to strengthen overseas connections, and to develop new business. Fewer than one in five said it was to promote diversity, however.

Of companies that were not interested in hiring foreigners or answered "neither," 33% said it was because they did not have a system ready to accept foreign staff. Another common reason was that they had no experience hiring foreigners, while many also said they already had enough staff.

Commenting on these results for Gentosha Gold Online, Zenken's Tomoko Okada said labor shortages caused by Japan's decreasing birthrate and aging population are making Japanese companies increasingly willing to hire foreign personnel.

Okada speculates that companies replying "neither" may be willing to hire foreign personnel if their future circumstances change. She also suggests that creating a system for accepting foreign staff would make companies more willing to do so.

Market research company Teikoku Databank conducted a survey of 1,100 companies in May 2022 and found that 45.9% were experiencing a labor shortage.

Japanese companies hoping for an economic recovery after the pandemic may need to consider hiring more staff from overseas.

1. Are there many foreigners at your place of work? 

2. What do you imagine are the main reasons foreigners move to your country or overseas?

3. What advice would you give to a foreigner planning to move to your country or overseas?

4. If you were thinking of moving abroad, what countries would you consider?

5. What would you miss most about your country if you were to move overseas?

[Alex !]

Hi Kristin!
Would you mind changing the date 10/31 to 10/24?

[Kristin55]

Sorry about the typo. Yes I just corrected it. Thank you Alex always^^

[Alex !]

Thank you always as well, Kristin!