Japan's Labor Force Increases for First Time in Eight Years
The Economist of May 4, 2006 reports that in the year to April, Japan's labor force rose for the first time in eight years to over 66.5 million.
There are now more jobs on offer in Japan than applicants. Not all the jobs are permanent ones. Yet for the first time since the start of the decade, the number of full-time jobs on offer is growing again.
The Economist points out, however, that there is no disguising the strong regional bias to the employment picture. Job prospects are generally bright down Japan's main Honshu island, from Tokyo to Nagoya to Osaka and Kobe. In Tokyo, despite the capital's high business costs, there are 1.6 jobs for every applicant.
Meanwhile, in further-away places such as Okinawa and Hokkaido, there still is a job shortage. In Nagasaki, half of school graduates must leave in order to find work.
There are now more jobs on offer in Japan than applicants. Not all the jobs are permanent ones. Yet for the first time since the start of the decade, the number of full-time jobs on offer is growing again.
The Economist points out, however, that there is no disguising the strong regional bias to the employment picture. Job prospects are generally bright down Japan's main Honshu island, from Tokyo to Nagoya to Osaka and Kobe. In Tokyo, despite the capital's high business costs, there are 1.6 jobs for every applicant.
Meanwhile, in further-away places such as Okinawa and Hokkaido, there still is a job shortage. In Nagasaki, half of school graduates must leave in order to find work.
posted by Blogmaster | 6:54 AM
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