The number of foreign workers in Japan has been increasing in recent years. If you are a foreigner working in Japan, you will probably enjoy a number of benefits, such as improved skills and peace of mind in your daily life. However, there are also disadvantages as well as advantages.

In this article, we will explain the advantages and disadvantages of working in Japan for foreigners, as well as some points to keep in mind. If you are a foreigner thinking about working in Japan, please refer to this article. For foreigners who want to work in Japan, we recommend IT-related global recruitment agency “G Talent”.

Many people feel that there are advantages to working in Japan

In recent years, Japan has been actively accepting foreign workers. One reason for this is the declining birthrate and aging population. As a result of the serious shortage of human resources caused by the declining birthrate and aging population, there is a movement to utilize human resources from overseas.

Another factor is the increasing globalization of various companies. At the same time as Japan is actively hiring foreign workers, the number of foreigners who want to work in Japan is also increasing. Although the number of foreign workers in Japan has decreased slightly due to the spread of the new coronavirus, the number of people working in Japan has been increasing in recent years due to the various benefits of working in Japan.

Reference: 外国人労働者が増加している背景は？メリットとデメリットを4つずつ紹介！／夢真

Advantages of working in Japan for foreigners

The main advantages of working in Japan for foreigners are as follows.

• High demand for people who can speak English
• Employment is stable
• You can learn advanced skills and services
• There is a generous insurance system
• Commuting allowances are provided
• You can receive careful employee training
• The area is safe and you can live with peace of mind
• High convenience
• No worries about food

High demand for people who can speak English

In Japan, there is a tendency for people who can speak English to be in demand. If you are not confident in your Japanese, you may have some concerns about working in Japan.

However, if you can speak English instead of Japanese, there is a possibility that you can make use of that skill in Japan. Specific jobs where English can be put to use include sales to foreigners and teaching at English conversation schools. If you are a native English speaker or have a good command of English, you will find it easier to find a job even if you do not have a high level of Japanese.

Reference: 外国人が日本で働くメリットと押さえておきたい就職時のポイント[グローバル2]／Fellow ship

Employment is stable

In Japan, it is difficult to dismiss an employee without a justifiable reason, so one of the benefits is that you are almost never fired unless you commit a major rule violation. Another characteristic of Japan is that there is a strong tendency to “build up your career within the same company”.

In Europe and America, there are many people who work by changing jobs repeatedly to improve their career. However, in Japan, people who steadily work their way up in one company tend to be more highly regarded. If you continue to work hard at the same company, not only is there less risk of being fired, but the possibility of being promoted and getting a good position will also increase.

Reference: 外国人労働者が感じる日本で働く６つのメリット／IZANAU

You can learn advanced skills and services

Japanese technology and services, such as the high quality of customer service, are often praised around the world. A typical example is the fact that in Japan, whether you buy expensive or cheap goods, you will receive the same level of courteous service. This kind of service is rare worldwide, and it is a culture unique to Japan.

By learning about Japan's advanced services and technology, you can expect to make great improvements in your skills. Improving your skills will also lead to opening up further possibilities in your future work.

Reference: 「世界よ、これが日本のサービスだ」外国人が日本に来て衝撃を受けたおもてなしとは／LIVE JAPAN

There is a generous insurance system

Japan has a generous insurance system that provides a great sense of security in everyday life, such as health insurance. The feature of this system is that by paying a certain amount, foreigners can also join the health insurance system in the same way as Japanese workers. If you are enrolled in health insurance, you can reduce the medical expenses you have to pay yourself if you suffer a serious injury or illness.

Reference: 外国人に対する国民健康保険の適用について／厚生労働省

Commuting allowance is paid

When working in a country other than Japan, most workers have to pay for the cost of getting from home to work. However, in Japan, the cost of commuting by train or bus is often paid for by the company.

This is not just for full-time employees, but in many cases even part-time workers are covered by the company. The Japanese culture of providing a commuting allowance is one of the major benefits for workers.

Reference: 日本では当たり前の通勤手当　英国で働き始めた女性が陥った落とし穴とは／Hint-Pot

You can receive careful employee training

Many Japanese companies provide thorough training for new employees, including employee training and OJT. OJT is a method of training in which inexperienced employees learn how to do their jobs by experiencing actual work. During training and OJT, your superiors will provide you with careful guidance, so you can steadily acquire knowledge and experience.

The area is safe and you can live with peace of mind

Japan is considered to be a country with good public safety compared to many other countries in the world. One of the reasons for this is that guns are not allowed to be owned. Because the citizens do not have guns, they are rarely involved in gun-related crimes.

Not only gun-related incidents, but the overall incidence of incidents such as murders and terrorism is also low. Because the possibility of being involved in an incident is low, you can live without anxiety. When you are working, the quality of the company is important, but the ease of living in the country itself is also a point to note. If you are in Japan, which is a country where it is easy to live, you can work with peace of mind every day.

Reference: 日本の治安は良い！世界でも10番目に治安の良い国とされている！／ほけんROOM

High convenience

The following are some of the things that make Japan so convenient.

• There are convenience stores and restaurants that are open 24 hours a day
• There are timetables for trains and buses
• Trains and buses arrive at the scheduled time

Although some countries also have convenience stores, they are rarely open 24 hours a day. Also, in some countries, detailed timetables for trains and buses are not available. Even if timetables are available, the reality is that trains and buses often do not arrive on time.

In Japan, many convenience stores are open 24 hours a day. Also, detailed timetables are available for trains and buses. Whether you are commuting to work or just going about your daily life, Japan is a country where it is easy to live.

Reference: 日本って便利だなと思ったこと／マイナビニュース

No worries about food

In Japan, there are all kinds of places to eat, from high-end restaurants to budget eateries. You can eat a meal for around 500 yen, and the safety of the food is guaranteed to a certain extent, so you can live your life without worry.

Another characteristic of Japan is the large number of chain stores that can be found all over the country. No matter where you are, you can always find a familiar store nearby. Many of the chain restaurants have reasonable prices, so no matter where you work in Japan, you will be able to eat familiar meals at a low price.

Reference: 日本の飲食店がなぜこんなにも安いのかを知ったら、手放しで喜べる？／note

Disadvantages and points to note for foreigners working in Japan

When foreigners work in Japan, they need to be aware of the following points.

• It is difficult to obtain a visa or residence status
• There are many places where only Japanese is spoken
• There are cases where you won't get a fair evaluation of your results
• There are cases where your income may decrease

It is difficult to obtain a visa or residence status

If you are a foreigner working in Japan, you will need to obtain a work visa. However, work visas have strict conditions for obtaining them, such as “having a long work history” or “having received advanced education”. Therefore, it is not easy to obtain a visa unless you are a person with experience and knowledge.

Reference: なぜ日本での就労ビザ取得は難しいの！？　自社にとって適切な外国人材を雇用するために知っておきたいこと／Guidable jobs

There are many places where only Japanese is spoken

Because there are not many people in Japan who can speak English, when you go to places like restaurants or supermarkets, Japanese is often the only language spoken. If you are a foreigner who is not good at Japanese, you may have a hard time using these facilities.

Reference: 日本人はどうして英語が苦手なの？／メトロノワ

There are cases where you won't get a fair evaluation of your results

As globalization progresses, the treatment of foreign workers is becoming better. However, there are still companies that treat foreign workers in a discriminatory way. Even if you achieve good results at work, there is still a possibility that you won't get a fair evaluation because you are a foreigner.

In particular, some companies think of foreign workers as “people who can be made to work in poor working conditions for low pay”. If you change jobs to a company with such a low quality, it will be difficult to get a fair evaluation, so you must choose your company carefully.

Reference: 外国人労働者を受け入れたい！雇用のメリット・デメリットや現在の問題点などを解説／外国人採用サポネット

There are cases where your income may decrease

 

Even now, there are cases where some Japanese companies view foreign workers as “cheap labor”. Naturally, foreign workers are also required to strictly observe the minimum wage, just like Japanese workers. Even so, there are cases where income is reduced due to old-fashioned stereotypes, so you must be careful.

Reference: 外国人労働者の賃金　現状と課題、日本人との違いなどを丁寧に解説！／外国人雇用相談室

How can you get the most out of working in Japan as a foreigner?

To make your time in Japan as comfortable as possible, make sure you keep the following points in mind.

• Improve your Japanese language skills
• Use an agency that specializes in helping foreigners find work or change jobs
• Acquire qualifications as necessary

Improve your Japanese language skills

Improving your Japanese language skills will make it easier to interact with Japanese employees and will help you to get on with your work more smoothly. It is also important to note that people who can speak both Japanese and English are likely to be in high demand. For example, there are jobs that can only be done because you can handle two languages, such as interpreting and translating. By improving your Japanese language skills, you will also be able to broaden your job options.

Reference: 日本でキャリアを築きたい外国人必見！ビジネス日本語の重要性を解説／TENJee

Use an agency that specializes in helping foreigners find work or change jobs

It is not possible to say that there are no companies that treat foreigners coldly. Therefore, by using a high-quality agency that specializes in helping foreigners find work or change jobs, it will be easier to find a good company that treats foreign workers in the same way as Japanese workers.

Acquire qualifications as necessary

In Japan, there are also companies that make the acquisition of qualifications a prerequisite for joining the company. Acquiring qualifications will broaden the range of companies you can choose from and make it easier to work at high-quality companies. Furthermore, in some cases, acquiring certain qualifications can also help you acquire a residence status. In order to work at a Japanese company with peace of mind, please consider acquiring qualifications in a field that is close to the type of work you want to do.

Reference:◆Requirements for a work visa◆ / Work Visa.com

Find out the advantages and disadvantages of working in Japan as a foreigner and find a job!

Japan is a country with good public safety and high convenience, so you can work here with peace of mind. Employment is stable, so there is almost no risk of being suddenly laid off. To avoid working for a malicious company that discriminates against foreigners, we recommend using an agency that specializes in helping foreigners find jobs or change jobs when choosing a company.

If you are looking for a job that is easy to work in Japan, please use the job-change agent “G Talent”, which specializes in global environment engineering companies. We have supported the job-change of engineers from over 70 nationalities, and have a wealth of experience in the employment and job-change of foreign engineers. If you want to work in Japan, please check it out.