Japan has one of the most powerful economies in the world. This is facilitated by the widespread use of advanced technology, effective government reforms, and a disciplined workforce. True, since the beginning of the 90s of the last century, there has been a significant decline in the rate of economic growth. Also, the terrible earthquake and tsunami of 2011 caused great damage to Japan. Nevertheless, today the country has a high standard of living, unemployment does not exceed 3-4%, and inflation is practically absent. The population of Japan in 2021 is about 127 million people. The bulk of local citizens are employed in the service sector (72.2%) and industry (26.6%). Agriculture accounts for just over 1%. Foreign job seekers looking to find jobs in Japan in the fishing or rice farming industry are very unlikely.
Working in Japan for foreigners in 2021, especially those with sufficient qualifications and experience, is a very real task. Of course, you need to take into account the specifics of the Asian country, the requirements for language skills, and the specifics of employment for foreigners. Next, let’s talk in more detail about the procedure for moving to Japan for labor migrants, job search options, available vacancies, and salaries in the Japanese labor market in 2021.
Working in Japan for foreigners
Japanese workers are highly skilled and hardworking. Therefore, finding a job will require serious competitive advantages. For example, jobs in Japan for girls are available in the modeling business, while men can apply for jobs in the automotive industry. In almost every case, a foreigner will need knowledge of the Japanese language. Moreover, the knowledge of English must be at a high level.
Working in Japan without knowing the language is an unrealistic task if only teaching English in Japanese educational institutions or illegal employment. To find a job in Japan, a foreigner needs to have sufficient qualifications, experience, and skills in a particular profession. Without this, finding a job in Japan will not work.
In most cases, to move to Japan for employment, it is necessary to find an employer in advance, which in the future will allow you to obtain a work visa. This is a must for foreign workers. Moreover, in general, visas are tied to a specific profession and do not allow one to engage in other types of activity. The most common is considered to be a work visa to Japan for highly qualified specialists. The document is issued for a maximum of 5 years.
To apply for a visa at the Regional Immigration Bureau of Japan, you need to obtain a special Certificate of Eligibility, which indicates the right of a foreigner to engage in professional activities in Japanese territory. Usually, a Japanese employer is responsible for issuing a certificate for a foreign employee.
Documents for a work visa to Japan
- Two copies of duly completed visa application forms.
- Two-color photographs (4.5cm × 4.5cm).
- Original and copy of the foreign passport.
- Copy of a civil passport.
- Original and copy of the Certificate of Eligibility.
In addition to qualified foreign personnel, Japan provides work visas for holders of specific professions:
- Professors (teaching and conducting scientific activities in Japanese educational institutions)
- Religious figures
- Journalists
- Representatives of creative professions (artists, composers, singers)
- Executives and senior managers.
- Medical workers
- Scientists
- Engineers and specialists in the humanities
- Employees of foreign companies
- Employees in the field of legal and accounting services
For more information about the types of work visas, validity periods, and requirements for foreigners, see the official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan mofa.go.jp.
How to find a job in Japan
Japan’s immigration policy towards foreign workers allows a wide range of professionals to qualify for a job. The main difficulty lies in finding a Japanese employer. Pay special attention to writing a high-quality resume and cover letter, usually 2-3 sheets are required. Be sure to include your competitive edge, experience, and skills.
Finding suitable jobs in Japan for foreigners in 2021 is very difficult. Personal contacts and acquaintances play an important role. If there are no connections with representatives or employees of Japanese companies, you can try to establish communication with foreigners living in Japan on social networks. Use a professional network like LinkedIn
A large number of vacancies in Japan are not publicly available, that is, it is not possible to find a job on the Internet. Therefore, contact Japanese companies directly. It is advisable to write job offers in large corporations where English-speaking foreign workers are guaranteed to be employed. For example, Toyota Motor, Mizuho Financial, Hitachi, Mitsubishi, and others.
Popular job search sites in Japan
- daijob.com
- gaijinpot.com
- jobsinjapan.com
- International employment resources, in Japan including
- careerjet.jp
- jp.indeed.com
- learn4good.com
- Japanese newspapers
- Japan Times
- The japan news
Be patient and act decisively. If the resources listed above do not help to find a job in Japan, contact one of the recruiting agencies. Better than Japanese ones.
Jobs and salary in Japan
As you know, the Japanese economy is built on the widespread use of high technologies and, in principle, is very diverse. The main industries in Japan where vacancies for foreigners are available are the automotive industry, information technology, electronics, food processing, financial and banking sectors. Very often, girls with a bright appearance are required to work in Japan. There are vacancies for models, dancers, singers.
The average salary in Japan in 2021 is 315 thousand Japanese yen (3 thousand dollars). The minimum wage, depending on the region, varies from 790 to 1,013 yen, that is, about $ 7.5-9.5 per hour. In such large cities as Tokyo, these figures are significantly higher. If you look at the available jobs in Japan for foreigners in 2021, these are translators, IT specialists, automotive professionals, medical professionals, experienced engineers, construction workers, and other technical specialists. You can earn here from 2 thousand dollars and more.
Finding a job in Japan in the unskilled labor area is very difficult. And without knowledge of the Japanese language, it is completely unrealistic. Among the scarce vacancies, there are professions for which separate work visas are provided – professors, scientists, artists, holders of creative professions, correspondents, and so on. Most immigrants find jobs in Japan as English language teachers and teachers.
You may also like these related articles: