Job Support Service for Non-Japanese Launched in Japan

Solver Network Co., Ltd.

The size of Japan’s labor pool is decreasing. The combined trends of a shrinking birthrate and an increasing number of elderly people have now become a serious issue. According to a survey carried out by Nikkei Shimbun (newspaper) in 2006, 40% of Japanese companies answered that they are short of workers. On the other hand, there are more than 120,000 foreign students in Japan and this number is increasing every year. The government has stated that “If there is a shortage of Japanese workers, we should consider accepting foreign workers,” and subsequently began to deal with the issue by easing visa regulations with the aim of securing high quality foreign workers.

Against this background, Solver Network Co., Ltd. launched the “Japan Career Support Service” in October 2007. The company is providing job information from Japanese companies that hire foreign students and recent graduates currently living in Japan or overseas who want to work in Japan. Furthermore, the company provides information about job hunters to hiring companies. In fact, the service provided by Solver Network is a combination of a Web-based matching service and a free job information magazine.

Solver Network’s initial service helped connect individual company owners with enterprises. So, why did they also start a business for foreigners? “I went to New Zealand to investigate,” says President ABURAYA Koh. “Half of the students studying in the Japanese language department at Auckland Technical College were able to obtain positions, however, all the jobs were assistant English teaching positions at junior and senior high schools.”

“In addition, although graduates of the Japanese Language Department at Moscow University are members of the elite, only ten percent of them obtained positions where they could use Japanese. In Japan, only 20~30% of foreign students find employment in spite of the fact that 80% of them want to work in Japan. On the other hand, medium-sized Japanese companies have for a long time experienced difficulties obtaining high quality foreign staff no matter how badly they have wanted them,” he says.

Everything Including Registration to Employment are Free of Charge
Solver Network aims to reduce the number of mismatches in the supply and demand of foreign workers so that they will be able to provide better matching opportunities for both workers and companies. On an annual basis, 530,000 foreigners take the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT), among which 450,000 candidates take the examination overseas. Consequently, in 2006, 30,000 candidates passed the Level 1 examination. There are many foreigners who would like to work in Japan if they are given a chance.

“Don’t you think we are wasting the talent of foreigners who are interested in Japan and yet have passed the JLPT?” asks Director Aburaya about the employment mismatch situation in Japan. “We want Japanese companies to become more competitive by using foreigners like these.” The company’s free magazine, called “JapanCareer,” is going to be distributed to 30 major Japanese universities that accept foreign students as well as 2007 universities in 22 countries that have a Japanese language department.

If you register as a member through the site, you will be able to view job data on the site and then apply for desired positions. Everything from registration to employment is free of charge. “Members may receive an e-mail from a company about scouting,” says company vice president ADACHI Tetsuo. “We are willing to consult with members about questions regarding employment in Japan, and in addition, we are able to discuss visas, housing, and opening bank accounts.”

“We hope that candidates will have language skills at JLPT Level 2 or above,” says Mr. Adachi about the preferred level of Japanese of registrants. “However, there must be some people who have acquired an ample amount of specialized knowledge even though they are not so good at Japanese. There are various hiring companies including those that set conditions such as that applicants must be able to understand the Nikkei Shimbun, and a company that allows an applicant to learn Japanese after coming to Japan as long as he or she specialized in IT, merchandising, and so on.”

Mr. Aburaya offers the following advice to students who want to work in Japan. “One key step to success lies in choosing a company that will help you achieve your goals, instead of sticking to a big company.” He continues, “I will be glad to hear that people who have already returned to their home countries are considering coming back to Japan to work.”

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