Japan taps Indian talent to address labor shortages across sectors

• As Japan grapples with a low birthrate and an aging population, particularly outside metropolitan areas, Indian talent could play a pivotal role in energizing local economies and bridging critical workforce gaps

• This dynamic partnership may also feature prominently in upcoming Japan-India summits, heralding a new era of cooperation between the two nations

PRAVASISAMWAD.COM

In a concerted effort to combat labor shortages and revitalize its workforce, Japan’s public and private sectors are increasingly looking to India for talent, japantimes.co.jp reported.

The collaboration targets a diverse range of workers, including students, skilled information technology professionals, and manufacturing laborers.

Kiyohiro Hokin, President of Hokkaido University, emphasized Japan’s desire to attract top-tier Indian students and researchers at a forum of Japanese and Indian universities in New Delhi. This landmark event, hosted in India for the first time, brought together leaders from over 70 universities and research institutions from both countries. Participants explored avenues for expanding educational and research collaborations.

“Indian institutions, including private and regional ones, offer excellent opportunities beyond the renowned Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs),” noted a representative of the Japan Science and Technology Agency, underscoring the need for wider engagement with Indian academia.

• This bilateral push aligns with a recent agreement between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese House of Representatives Speaker Fukushiro Nukaga to exchange over 50,000 skilled workers, primarily IT engineers, over the next five years

• While promising, some experts caution that low salaries in Japan may deter potential Indian workers despite the country’s growing appeal

Japanese businesses are also keen to recruit Indian graduates, particularly in regional areas like Niigata Prefecture. Yukio Miyashita, a professor at Nagaoka University of Technology, shared that many local companies offer incentives, such as covering travel and accommodation costs for interns, to attract Indian talent. His university has already established exchange programs with five Indian universities.

The influx of Indian technical trainees and specified skilled workers to Japan has risen significantly. Arms, a pioneering Japanese organization facilitating such exchanges, has sent about 340 Indian trainees since 2019, with 70% placed in the manufacturing sector. “Indian workers are highly educated and quick to learn Japanese,” said Nagatoshi Shibata, Vice President of Arms, adding that 90% of companies employing Indian workers are repeat clients.

Major corporations like All Nippon Airways (ANA) are intensifying efforts to integrate Indian workers into Japan’s workforce. Tsuneya Katagiri, head of ANA’s Indian operations, highlighted the potential economic and social benefits of increased Indian employment in Japan, especially for regional revitalization.

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