Japanese Graduates Face Job Woes

ZHANG:
The world economic slowdown is worrying new job seekers in Japan. Thousands of Japanese university students were at a massive career seminar in Tokyo today, checking out what their prospective employers had to say.

STORY:
Japanese companies once enticed university students with generous vacations, free iPods and monthly allowances for pets.

But after four years of aggressive hiring the tide has turned.

Now those companies are trying to convince them that even if they were hired they won't be fired - at least, not right away.

[Ryoichi Takizaki, Human Resources Director]:
"Students often ask us about our company's future employment plans so we tell them that Panasonic Electric Works does not have any plans to fire full-time employees at this moment."

As the global financial crisis hits here these new graduates in the world's second-largest economy they could face a rude awakening.

[Saori Ogina, University Student]:
"I'm worried because companies have been retracting job offers and the number being hired is declining as well. I looked at various company postings and there are less positions now. Everyone is talking about the recession and that makes me more nervous."

And the students are facing severe competition for dwindling positions.

[Takeo Iizuka, University Student]:
"Just by watching the news I can tell that the hiring situation is getting tougher and more competitive as I see a lot of talented students coming to this job fair."

Many firms are contemplating cutting hiring and some have even retracted job offers to final year students.

[Yuka Mizuno, University Student]:
"I got a job offer from one company, but they just told me they'd like to postpone my hire, which was supposed to start in January. I'm extremely upset because I'm ready to work for them.

However Japans aging population and experience from the last hiring freeze in the 90s could see companies still hiring a smaller number of graduates this year.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Ntd
• NTDTV
• news
• Japanese
• Tokyo
• university
• students
• economic
• Japan
• employment
• Panasonic
• Electric
• global
• financial
• crisis

[TheRealXidious]

I thought this was bukkake...

[ShadowSoldior]

Jobs building giant fighting robots all filled up?

[sourheartroasie]

Maybe they will commit suicide to save face.

[oolong777tea]

Japanese employment system is unique compared with the one in European countries and the US. If I can't find a job before graduation, I would never be able to get a good job anymore.

[vmichial]

:( that sucks, i'm trying to ride the recession out in college....hope things look up in 5 years like estimates say... I would really like to land a job in Japan....

[Shukria123]

but these changing winds can blow cold and hostile...

[theabomation]

They problems that the Youth of Japan are having are the same as with the American Youth

[jons44]

And everyone wonders why the Japanese are having less children. Why start families if they are just going to starve? Workers unite.

[thatzombieplace]

私は韓国！ろくでなしたち！米国はこのドェジヤ！酔いしますか？­ピザですか？米国は、ブタの鼻持ちならない！バラクオバマ議員は­、フセインのキラー！ 1（kwan！！セキャ！

[takeosann]

im on it. hahaha

[NotoriousDudeable]

i wanna work in japan as a nurse

[gamefreak183]

thumbs up if u just typed in funny asian