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Osaka – Many foreign academics in Japan hoping to find work in the country face a difficult battle, an economic slowdown caused by a pandemic that has led many corporations to recruitment.
This raises considerations about the imaginable departure to other countries of promising foreign personnel accustomed to Japanese culture and language at a time when the world’s third-largest economy is dealing with a rapidly aging population.
According to a July survey conducted by professional data provider Disco Inc. , 68. 5% of the 343 foreign academics who completed the questionnaire and would graduate next March remained a job offer, 9. 1 percent more than last year.
This compares to 22. 3% of Japan’s 1,230 academics without a task to be offered in July, according to Tokyo-based company.
The International Students Support Network, an organization that advises corporations interested in hiring staff abroad, said the loss of employment opportunities is evident in almost every industry, namely in the tourism and retail sectors.
“Unfortunately, industries most affected by the effect of the virus are also popular with foreign academics,” said Manabu Kubota, general secretary of the Tokyo-based group, which works with about 120 universities to help his foreign academics find jobs in Japan.
Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, an increase in the number of foreign guests to the country led many Japanese corporations to recruit foreign students, but restrictions imposed through the pandemic led to a drop in the number of guests of more than 99% compared to last year for five consecutive months through August.
The scenario is serious for many foreign academics at Ritsumeikan University in Asia-Pacific in Oita Prefecture, who represent almost a portion of the university’s approximately 5,700 academics, better known in English as APU.
An Indian undergraduate who wanted to remain anonymous for fear of endangering his homework clients said he had been unable to take advantage of any homework opportunities in his quest for a career in advertising sales.
“Under the circumstances, top college academics get donations until June,” when they are expected to graduate the following year, said the 22-year-old foreign minister.
Just in case, a 23-year-old Indian woman who graduated from the APU in March had her homework retired through a recruitment company in Tokyo after moving to the capital to work.
This without delay put her in monetary difficulties. ” The company canceled my position 10 days before I left. I was worried I could pay my rent because I had spent every penny to move here.
However, she is considered luckier than others after having to unload the company’s refund, with the help of lawyers, for rejecting her position in such a short time, while earning a living wage in the capital part-time, she is also back in the task market, hoping to locate some other full-time task in the country.
While Japan introduced a new visa program in April last year to recruit basically foreign staff in 14 labor-intensive sectors such as construction, agriculture and tourism, many foreign academics have sought employment in companies such as commercial homes, data generation companies and consultants.
Kayoko Sato, APU’s professional support manager, expressed fear that existing difficulties could lead foreign academics to pursue outdoor careers in Japan.
Stressing the importance of the diversity and strength that foreigners can bring to business and society, Kubota’s Tokyo network called on Japanese corporations to take advantage of the existing opportunity to recruit competent foreign students.
“We’ll have to do everything we can to get them to stay here. With an understanding and affinity for Japanese culture, they will play an indispensable role in keeping our country afloat,” he said.
The Japan Times LTD. All rights are reserved.