Japanese Industries Looking to Hire

Looking for a job in Japan, but not sure in which fields you have the best chances to get one? Let’s find out which industries are most active in hiring international staff.

Even today there are almost 2 open job offers for every candidate in Japan. Until 2030 Japan will lack 6,440,000 working adults to keep its economy going. To counter the shrinking workforce, changes are being made to encourage more women, elderly, and foreigners to join Japan’s workforce.

New visa types are also created to allow more foreigners to work in Japan. The specified skilled worker visa, the latest addition, was launched in April 2019, finally loosening the strict language and degree requirements, giving applicants a wider range of job opportunities to choose from.

IT

IT and tech companies continue to play a big role in Japan’s economy and they want to keep growing. What they are looking for are two types of people. Highly-skilled professionals that can take over projects immediately, and motivated newcomers with a university degree of any major as long as they are willing to learn the ropes on-the-job.

Many IT companies go abroad to find young talent to bring to Japan. It’s also one of the best industries if you are looking for an English work environment, that won’t require the otherwise necessary business level Japanese skills.

Nursing

Facing Japan’s aging population, in no other field are jobs expected to increase this much. Nursing is probably the industry with the most urgent need for international support. About 10 years ago Japanese facilities started hiring staff from abroad, providing many with on-the-job and Japanese training.

Conversational Japanese skills and some relevant experience are desirable to work in nursing. For a long-term stay it will be necessary to provide the relevant qualifications or pass the state examination.

Retail/Restaurants

Japanese people love to go out shopping and eating. Add the tourist, and it is no surprise that shops are crowded, and long lines are forming in front of restaurants. To deal with the customer flow, they need staff.

As long as you don’t aim for the high-end shops, you can get started in entry positions from N4 level as long as you remember typical phrases to interact with customers. Additionally, many positions provide a great opportunity for frequent Japanese practice.

Office work

With a university degree and the right attitude, office jobs in recruiting, marketing, sales, international relations, customer support, and more are there for the taking. While not exactly a field starving of candidates, cultural awareness, language skills, and effort can get you a position here.

For most office jobs N2 or business Japanese is required. At multinational companies, this is a different story, but their recruitment inside of Japan often focuses on hiring bilinguals with high levels of English and Japanese skills.

Construction

With the Olympic Games around the corner, Japan feels the lack of construction workers.

Doing physical work, it’s not a job for everyone but if you like being out and about this could be a good opportunity. Women are also encouraged to apply. Bonus: getting to wear those baggy tobi pants!

Hospitality/Tourism

If you want more tourists, who better to deal with them than people who understand their language and needs? Whether as a tour guide, hotel staff, or working behind the scenes, international staff is needed for a wide variety of positions.

Education and Japanese requirements vary based on the particular position, so keep looking until you find something that suits you.

Agriculture

The specified skills visa is also pushing this industry. Since most positions don’t require university degrees, hiring foreigners for more than part-time work often proved difficult until now. Available jobs range from farm work to processing agricultural goods.

A three months course in the big city to learn conversational Japanese and you are good to go. It is not unlikely that farms will hire groups of people and make English support available.

The classic: English Teaching

One sometimes gets the feeling that Japan already has all the English teachers it needs. Still, teaching positions continue to be a great option to make a living in Japan.

A university degree is a must, teaching qualifications or being a native is a plus. Japanese is optional, but conversational Japanese is appreciated.

Both on governmental and company level Japan is taking huge steps to attract international candidates to the Japanese job market. As a result getting work in Japan is becoming easier than ever before. I hope you also can find your place among the old and new job opportunities Japan is offering.