More Japanese students studying after university graduation to boost job prospects

A growing number of Japanese university graduates are studying at vocational schools instead of diving straight into the work force in a bid to acquire marketable skills amid the prolonged recession.

Nearly 20,000 university graduates entered vocational schools across the country this academic year, up nearly 4,000 from the previous year, according to a survey conducted by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.

Some believe that their chance of finding jobs will increase after study at vocational schools because they are still regarded by employers as new graduates. Most Japanese companies prefer to hire new graduates.

Some vocational schools have even set up special courses for students who have graduated from universities.

The Ohara Gakuen educational corporation set up a special business course at the Tokyo-Suidobashi campus of its Ohara Boki Gakko (accounting school) this academic year. The new course is targeted at graduates of four-year universities and two-year junior colleges who failed to find jobs.

While supporting the students' ongoing job-hunting attempts, the new course trains them to acquire special knowledge and skills in various fields.

Course educators hold numerous interviews with individual students to teach them how to fill in job application forms and how to respond to job interviews, as well as to find the types of jobs they are suited to.

Ohara set up the course in response to a steady increase in the number of university graduates who enter vocational schools after failing to get jobs. As of Dec. 17, 35 out of 37 students enrolled in the course have received job offers.

One of them, a 22-year-old woman who studied at the course after graduating from Waseda University, got a job offer from a trading company.

"The school provides students with sufficient job guidance on an individual basis. It was really helpful. Universities, too, should improve their job guidance," she said.

A total of 1,662 university and junior college graduates and dropouts joined 17 vocational schools Ohara operates in the Tokyo metropolitan area this school year, including those enrolled in the special course. The figure was more than double the 792 students at its schools in the 2006 academic year.

"Some may wonder why these students enter vocational schools after graduating from university. But we've enjoyed high popularity from our students," an Ohara spokesman said. "I think this reflects growing demand for education provided by vocational schools, which help students acquire marketable skills."

Of about 600 freshmen at Tokyo School of Business, which caters to those aspiring to join the media as well as the pet business, 41 are university graduates.

"Usually, around 20 university graduates join our school each year, but the sharp rise is attributable to difficulties in finding jobs," says an official of the school. "If this trend continues, we'll consider setting up new courses."

Altogether, 7.3 percent of the 267,077 people who entered vocational schools in the academic year that began this April were university graduates, according to the ministry -- well above about 5 percent between 2001 and 2008.

The National Association of Special Institutes of Japan expects a further increase in the figure.

"If the severe employ situation continues, the number will further rise," said association Secretary-General Kaoru Kikuta.
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