The number of international students graduating from Japanese universities and seeking to find employment in Japanese corporations is currently increasing. Corporations are also paying attention to the employment of high-level foreign personnel due to internationalization and changes to the employment system. In the background of this is the falling Japanese population, which indicates an increase in the latent need to “employ more skilled personnel” regardless of their nationality, when such corporations consider their global management plan.
In a survey report*1 conducted by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the question “Do you think that the need for middle management and executives demanded by corporations in the future will be able to met with Japanese people only?” was posed. The answer “They will not be able to be met with Japanese people only.” was given by 56% for middle management and 28% for executives in large corporations, and 64% for middle management and 35% for executives in corporations operating overseas. Since approximately 60 to 70% of corporations answered that they "have, or are yet undecided about” a policy for employing high-level foreign human resources, the demand for employing high-level foreign personnel may rapidly increase if a suitable environment is fostered.
On the other hand, since the in-company language used in the majority of Japanese corporations is Japanese, communication skills and knowledge of Japanese corporate culture are required to find employment in Japanese corporations.
The “Career Development Program for Foreign Students in Japan” works with the industry and universities to assist the cultivation of high-level foreign personnel that can quickly adapt to Japanese corporate culture by providing the following: 1. Specialized education linking industry and academia*2 2. Business Japanese language education 3. Japanese business education 4. Internships and 5. Programs such as employment assistance.
*1 “Global Human Resource Management Research Group” report, May 2007, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
*2 Only for Program for Developing Highly-Specialized Foreign Students
