According to the latest data released by リクナビ, as of May 1, the employment rate of college students who are scheduled to graduate in 2025 has reached 72.4%, an increase of 7.3 percentage points compared with the same period last year, and a new high since the beginning of the 17-year survey.
It can be seen that Japan's "seller's market" with job seekers as an advantage will continue until next year, and companies will further accelerate early selection to compete for talent.
In terms of arts and sciences, the retention rate of science graduates was as high as 78.3%, and that of liberal arts was 69.7%, both exceeding the same period last year.
In terms of the industries in which students received job assignments, the information and communication industry accounted for 24.2% of the total, followed by manufacturing (excluding machinery) (18%) and machinery and equipment manufacturing (16.4%).
59.4% of the students who received the offer were notified by more than 2 companies, and nearly 10% of them even got the offer from more than 5 companies, which is enough to see how fierce the competition for talents is.
According to the Japan Personnel Agency, the number of applicants for general jobs (university graduates) in Japan's 2024 national civil service recruitment examination is only 24,240, a decrease of 7.9% from last year and a record low.
The number of applicants for the national civil service examination in Japan has been declining for the second year in a row due to the lack of competition from private companies with high salaries and good benefits, and the downturn in technical fields such as civil engineering and construction has been noticeable.
The number of applicants for the spring examination for cadre candidates and general positions in local ministries and agencies is also the lowest in history at 13,599, and the number of applicants has decreased by 4% in about 10 years.
Against the backdrop of the declining birthrate and aging population, Japan's labor supply has been flattening in recent years by promoting the employment of women and the elderly.
According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, the number of employed people in Japan in 23 years was 67.56 million, of which 30.59 million were women, both of which reached a record high.
However, Masashi Yamato, an economist at the Mitsubishi Research Institute, believes that the labor force participation rate of Japanese women is close to the upper limit, and the full-time employment of the elderly is rare and limited, and that foreign labor is the key to supporting the Japanese economy in the future.
In response to the growing labor crisis, Japanese companies have begun to expand the employment of foreign workers, and local governments are actively accepting foreign workers and providing employment and livelihood support.
In order to promote the utilization of foreign human resources in industries such as taxis and buses, which are severely understaffed, Chiba Prefecture has announced that foreigners can take the two types of driver's license examinations required for driving in English.
In addition, Ibaraki, Gunma, Kumamoto, Saga, Nagasaki and other prefectures have also begun to allow two types of driver's license tests in English, and the procedure is convenient as long as you apply on the spot.
Starting this year, Nagasaki will increase the duration of the two types of ordinary tests required for taxis and substitute drivers from three days a week to five days a week, so that more people can get a driver's license.
The Japanese government has set a new target to double the amount of foreign direct investment in Japan from 46 trillion yen the year before to 100 trillion yen by 2030.
In order to attract overseas companies and factories, the government will establish a new system to recruit talented people with strong IT skills who have graduated from top universities in India and Southeast Asia, and discuss new status of residence to make it easier for international students to find employment and start businesses in Japan.
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