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65% of university seniors reject job offers amid labor shortage

22 Comments

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Instead of only turning down offers, they should also be demanding higher pay. For the sake of all of us.

17 ( +20 / -3 )

Good turn down the offers, if companies are that interested in landing any of these future graduates they will up the ante and which will start other companies to do the same.

They don't need to demand anything, as I have told my kids, last one is in college the other in his early 20's, take your time, it's your turn to choose where you want to work and are not forced to take the first offer around!

16 ( +16 / -0 )

Yet strangely, this labor-shortage situation doesn't seem to reduce the number of "black" companies or insane amounts of OT...

10 ( +10 / -0 )

Think youngsters have a right to decide a path, and change it when they learn more. Growing up is not dictated by companies. And as above should be earning a decent wage that's the point of working. Sadly only a few companies are solvent enough to offer a decent income without falling back on excessive free work.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

In Japan they apply to many dozens of companies and companies send out extra "hired" notifications since they know some will go elsewhere. It's like getting accepted to 5 universities and "turning down" four of them.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

I'm curious about the details of the denials. Where they for companies who were on the black company list? Or, where the jobs they took easier? I've worked in universities in Japan for many years and watch the graduates go through this induction program. 80% of them secure jobs that have nothing to do with their university major. Really obscure things like, a guy studied science for four years (biology, genetics, etc.) and took a job in real estate. Another one was, a girl who majored in child psychology took a job in the sales department of a plastics factory. That's only two, but I know of hundreds more with similar obscurity to their university studies. This just adds weight to the report a year or so ago stating that companies want 'empty shells' from university. In this way, they can manipulate and bully them into 'yes men'. This also bodes well with the education minister's comment about banning all humanities classes from universities. His reason, "it doesn't suit Japanese culture." What he meant was, they don't want people who can think for themselves. They only want yes-men! Good luck to all these kids. I hope they have the guts to stand up to their bosses and get some sort of fairness in their employment. On the other hand, I also hope the companies weed out these little salary sucking parasites that are only looking for a desk, a chair and a black suit.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

Sadly only a few companies are solvent enough to offer a decent income without falling back on excessive free work.

I guess you don't follow the press too much here in Japan. Companies are putting away record amounts of earnings and have literally billions in the bank here in Japan and overseas.

If THAT isn't solvency then I don't know what is!

I've worked in universities in Japan for many years and watch the graduates go through this induction program. 80% of them secure jobs that have nothing to do with their university major. 

Then you if anyone should have access to information regarding this question here;

I'm curious about the details of the denials. Where they for companies who were on the black company list? Or, where the jobs they took easier?

And if you do work at university here then you would know the reasons why people don't typically work in their fields that they study in too.

This is NOTHING new, been going on for at least 2 generations now.

With the aging society here though, this too is going to force companies to change their hiring practices if they can't get people to work for them.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

If ya wait too long, they only hire at one time period of the year

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Supply and demand! If you pay peanuts, you’ll only get monkeys.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Big companies might have large amounts of cash stashed away because they are excempt from tax, due to a "close" relationship with the LDP, smaller companies, zombie companies survive on dubious bank loans, even people's personal pensions prop up many small businesses and a reliance on free work helps. Yubaru please you are not so blinded by official news stories. Still wages are the lowest in the OECD living standards are slipping, birth rate continues to decline. Just because the Nippon Kaigi lead Union agreed to a 3% pay rise for big companies that have record breaking cash reserves. Does not mirror what is happening with the other 90% of businesses.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

If all you can offer is peanuts and overtime with no extra pay, then what do you expect? In most civilized countries, family is more important than work.

10 ( +10 / -0 )

No surprise there. Who on earth aspires to be a salaryman?

If these kidz had any sense they’d learn English and use their good hard working mentality and go abroad. Get paid twice as much and get treated twice as good. Probably learn twice as much on the job as well.

9 ( +10 / -1 )

I love it -- labor shortage. I was kicked out of my company last year when I hit 65; I guess Japanese companies feel you are out of energy by that age. BTW, I have run (and completed) three full marathons this year. Someone needs to inform Japanese companies that age is a state of mind...

12 ( +12 / -0 )

Vernon Watts

They don’t deserve you man. Obviously you are more than capable. Peace!

7 ( +7 / -0 )

No. Vernon, they sure don't deserve you. Hope you find someone who'll appreciate you more (that's if you're not thinking of retiring).

7 ( +7 / -0 )

Many may want to earn MA or MS. Some might want to study abroad. Some families, getting jobs are not priority. Many graduates will work for family owned business.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Many may want to earn MA or MS. Some might want to study abroad. Some families, getting jobs are not priority. Many graduates will work for family owned business.

I find it hard to believe that "many" will work in their family businesses, there are tens of thousands of graduates and countless numbers HAVE to find jobs because their "scholarship"...(cough, cough, cough) LOANS start coming due.

Japan has a truly screwed up "scholarship" system, the over whelming majority are just low interest loans that have to start being paid with 6 months or so of graduation. THAT is why many take the first jobs offered, because they have debt loads, and need the work. BUT because of a lack of people applying they have better opportunities now than just about ever before.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Ideally competition for graduates would lead to higher wages and better conditions, but don't hold your breath.

It would also lead to companies employing older workers with experience at other firms, but that is even more unlikely. Most just want malleable young people who start on graduate (i.e., low) wages.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Lots of jobs on offer mean the students are lazier than ever when it comes to doing any work at the university. I don't know if they actively avoid "black" companies, but I've heard them talking about "black" labs in the university, where the professor has the audacity to insist they turn up and do something.

I would say that the vast majority of students in our engineering department get jobs that are engineering related, albeit often in different fields from their masters work. Telecoms and power companies are favourites here, along with the usual big companies.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Bankers children choose Keioh or Tokyo U. Waseca has been popular with children of Tech Corporation owners.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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