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2018.03.06

2018 Foreign Students Survey
Career survey on foreign students in Japan

TOKYO, March 6, 2018- Pasona conducted a career survey to participants of Job-Haku AUTUMN, a job fair mainly for foreign students in Japan looking for jobs.    

The number of foreign workers in Japan hit a record-high of around 1.28 million as of October 2017 (Status of Foreign Workers, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare).  Companies will continue to increase hiring of global personnel as companies increase their global business and Japan’s labor population decreases.  

In this survey, we take a look at how foreign students perceive their career and goals.

Highlights

  • 99.2% wish to work in Japan
    Those who would like to stay in Japan until permanent residency status (32.3%) was far greater than those who are looking to work in Japan for the short term.  It was followed by “More than 10 years” (19.9%) and “1 to 3 years” (16.3%).  Additionally, 99.2% wish to work in Japan.
    This shows that there is a demand for companies to provide long term career development and training for global personnel.
  • 35.8% chose Japan as their destination to study abroad because they want to work at a Japanese company
    The number of students who are interested in a career at a Japanese company (35.8%) surpassed those who chose Japan as a place to study because “I was interested in Japanese culture” (26.6%).  It can be said the recognition of Japanese companies or Japanese brands is growing in the world due to Japanese companies expanding their global business, Japan’s economic recovery, and more cultural exchange among countries.
  • About 60% have only 4 months left until graduation
    In Japan, the submission deadline for most companies is around March 2017 for those graduating in 2018.  So, many Japanese students begin their job hunt from over a year before their graduation.  However, 60.6% of the foreign participants of JOB-Haku AUTUMN had only 4 months until graduation.
Outline of Survey
Method:Written survey
When:November 17, 2017
Whom:Participants of JOB-Haku AUTUMN (Tokyo)
Number of response: 810 persons


■The gender representation was fairly equal.  
The model age represented was 24 years old.
 
Participants answered Male (50.7%), Female (49.3%).
13.8% were 24 years old, followed by 12.0% who were 26 years old, and 11.3% who were 28 years old.

 




■By descending order, the highest number of nationality represented was China followed by Nepal and Myanmar.

The highest was China (24.6%), followed by Nepal (12.9%) and Myanmar (10.7%).







■60.6% have only 4 months left until graduation.

In Japan, the submission deadline for most companies is around March 2017 for those graduating in 2018.  So, many Japanese students begin their job hunt from over a year before their graduation.  However, 60.6% of the foreign participants of JOB-Haku AUTUMN had only 4 months until graduation.


■35.8% chose Japan as their destination to study abroad because they want to work at a Japanese company.
 
The number of students who are interested in a career at a Japanese company (35.8%) surpassed those who chose Japan as a place to study because “I was interested in Japanese culture” (26.6%).  It can be said the recognition of Japanese companies or Japanese brands is growing in the world due to Japanese companies expanding their global business, Japan’s economic recovery, and more cultural exchange among countries.




■20.6% want to work in Japan by utilizing his/her language skills.

For the motivation to work and live in Japan, the highest number of response was that respondents want to put to use language skills such as Japanese and their own native language (20.6%).  This was followed by respondents who answered “I want to live in Japan (17.9%)” and “Japanese companies have a well respected image (15.1%).”
 


■When attempting to get a job in Japan, obstacles are “Lack of job offers for foreigners/international students”, “The level of Japanese which Japanese companies require is too high.”

The biggest obstacle faced by respondents when job hunting is the lack of job offers for international students (20.2%).  This shows that although the demand for hiring of global personnel by companies is rising, information on job openings and opportunities is not reaching foreign students.
Additionally, respondents faced great difficulty in conducting Japanese written test, SPI, and aptitude tests; “The level of Japanese which Japanese companies require is too high (15.1%)”, “Japanese written tests, SPI and aptitude tests are too difficult for foreigners (13.8%).”  Japanese companies should reevaluate and change their hiring practices if they wish to hire qualified global personnel.





■Foreign students are looking for “Information about companies offering positions to foreigners” as well as “The method of job hunting.”

Respondents mostly requested more information about companies that are offering positions to foreigners (22.1%), followed by, the method of job hunting (13.8%) and the type of skills or talents companies in Japan are currently looking for (11.5%).


■Many prefer to stay in Japan permanently rather than short term.

Those who would like to stay in Japan until permanent residency status (32.3%) was far greater than those who are looking to work in Japan for the short term.  It was followed by “More than 10 years” (19.9%) and “1 to 3 years” (16.3%).  Additionally, 99.2% wish to work in Japan.
This shows that there is a demand for companies to provide long term career development and training for global personnel.




About Pasona

Ever since its foundation in 1976, Pasona Group’s corporate philosophy, “Providing Solutions to Society’s Problems” has not changed.  The Company has aimed to build a better society and to create an infrastructure that provides each individual the opportunity to work and the freedom to choose the job of his or her choice. 
Pasona provides HR Solutions worldwide (Temporary staffing, Contracting, HR Consulting, Place & Search, Global Sourcing, Outplacement, Outsourcing), and Life Solutions such as services in the childcare and elderly care area.  The Company is also engaged in promoting local revitalization.  


Inquiries:
PR Department, Pasona Group Inc.
電話番号 +81-3-6734-0215
Click below to contact us through website:
https://www.pasonagroup.co.jp/contact/press_e.html

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