More foreign students seeking work in Japan as companies pursue global talent

The number of foreign students looking for jobs in Japan is increasing as companies go global and seek more overseas workers -- providing tougher competition for Japanese students amid the ongoing economic downturn.

On Oct. 17 the Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO) held a job-seeking preparation seminar for overseas students. A total of 517 students from China, South Korea, Bangladesh and other countries took part -- a turnout that surpassed organizers' expectations. Many of the participants were from emerging Asian countries experiencing rapid economic growth, but wanted to work in Japan more than any other country.

"In China, the employment rate is not necessarily better than in Japan," said Ling Yi, a 27-year-old student from Shanghai who is in his first year of study in a postgraduate course at Kobe University. "The economic downturn and competition are harsh, but I want to find work in Japan."

Another 24-year-old participant from Vietnam, a third-year student at Osaka University, was also keen to work in Japan.

"Vietnam is like Japan 30 years ago. I want to pass on Japan's service system to Vietnam," the student said.

According to JASSO figures, there were 132,720 foreign students in Japan as of May 2009 -- a record high. The number of foreign students seeking jobs at Japanese companies has also been rising each year, reaching 11,040 in 2008.

At the same time Japanese companies have a keen eye on overseas students. About half of the approximately 600 new graduates that Fast Retailing Co., the operator of the Uniqlo chain, plans to take on in 2011 are foreigners. Companies such as Panasonic and Rakuten are also actively hiring personnel from overseas.

Sharp Chairman Katsuhiko Machida said that the talent of workers was a factor in the trend.

"The reason that employment of students from overseas is increasing and regular employment of Japanese is decreasing is a matter of ability," he said.

Mainichi Communications, a major employment information provider, said Japanese students needed to realize the gravity of the situation.

"Companies are cutting back on employment and it's precisely because of this that they are looking at the qualities of the students regardless of their nationalities. Japanese students need a sense of crisis," a company representative said.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/national/news/20101022p2a00m0na022000c.html