Retaining talent in rural areas

Retaining foreign talent in rural Japan is becoming a major challenge ahead of the implementation of a new foreign worker training system in 2027.

A recent survey by Global Power, the operator of the job search and recruitment website NINJA for skilled foreign workers and students, shows that less than 50% of foreign workers and students in rural Japan want to stay in their current area when looking for work. The analysis, based on data from 42,000 registered users as of May 2024, focusing on their current address and desired work location, shows Tokyo leading with 51.7% of users wanting to stay in the city. Fukuoka (51.5%), Aichi (49.6%), and Osaka (48.8%) also have high percentages. Global Power Vice President Yuji Shinohara stated, “The reality is that foreign talent is attracted to large cities with higher salaries and more job opportunities.”

Under current regulations, individuals holding certain visa categories, such as engineers or professionals in the humanities /international services (approximately 370,000 people), or highly skilled workers (140,000 people), are permitted to change jobs. However, foreigners participating in the government's technical trainee program (approximately 410,000 people) are not allowed to change workplaces within three years, as they are required to work in the same location to acquire certain job skills. This regulation has helped many local companies recruit these trainees, as they are less likely to quit.

Japan will replace its technical intern training program with a “train and recruit” system as early as 2027, allowing interns to change jobs after one to two years of work. While this new regulation makes it easier for foreigners to participate in the technical intern training program, it also poses a new challenge in retaining foreign talent in rural areas of Japan.

To prevent the migration of foreign workers to large cities, local governments and companies are implementing measures such as improving wages, working conditions, and providing opportunities to learn Japanese to support foreign workers' career development. As a result, rural areas of Japan will become more attractive to foreign talent.

VIET LE

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/giu-chan-nhan-tai-o-nong-thon-post751607.html