Japan's labour market shortages hit certain sectors harder

Kazumichi Shono and Takuya Ono

The Yomiuri Shimbun

Publication Date : 01-07-2014

Not every Japanese company has been enjoying the recent economic recovery thanks to Prime Minister Shinzo Abes Abenomics economic policies. Some businesses, in the restaurant and construction sectors in particular, are suffering serious labour shortages.

The crunch is said to be caused by the compound impacts of the ongoing economic recovery, the population decline and mismatches between job seekers wishes and working conditions.

The government growth strategy recently approved by the Cabinet includes measures to increase the working population. The task now is to promptly implement those measures.

Takamichi Nozawa, a 52-year-old employee who normally works at the head office of the chain pub operator Teraken Co., was busy cooking in the kitchen of Sakura Suisan izakaya pub near JR Tokyo Station. Nozawa is supposed to train cooks working at the companys pubs, rather than cooking at the restaurants himself.

I have no time to train other employees, Nozawa said with a sigh.

Because Sakura Suisan pubs are short on staff, employees from the head office are being dispatched to branch kitchens almost every day to help cook, wash dishes or clean up.

See the original post:
Japan's labour market shortages hit certain sectors harder