MARCH 19, 2001
BUSINESSWEEK E.BIZ -- ASIAN COVER STORY
JOBS ARE SECURE IN JAPAN...
Some Japanese are unhappy with the stability companies offer their workers.
Government labor policies make it extremely hard for employers to fire
employees. This job security, they say, stifles worker initiative.
International job security ranked by countries where it is hardest to
sack workers
1. Portugal 23. Belgium
2. Norway 24. Switzerland
3. Japan 25. Australia
4. Korea 26. U.S.
5. Italy 27. Britain
Data: OECD Employment Outlook, 1999
...LIMITING UPWARD MOBILITY FOR SOME
Japan's seniority system rewards workers the longer they stay at one
company, leaving younger workers with less chance of promotion. That's a
big reason why more workers want to jump ship.
WANT TO WORK WANT TO WANT TO START
YEAR AT ONE COMPANY CHANGE JOBS OWN COMPANY OTHER
1998 50% 25% 20% 5%
1999 46% 27% 22% 5%
2000 43% 34% 21% 2%
Data: Nikkei Research, July 2000
...AND PERSUADING MORE TO SWITCH JOBS
More than 3.2 million Japanese workers changed jobs in 2000, nearly 10%
more than in 1999, and a record 5% of the labor force.
% OF ALL % OF WORKERS
PERIOD TOTAL JOB HOPPERS WORKERS AGE 35-44
1996 2.72 million 4.3 3.8
1997 2.99 million 4.7 4.0
1998 3.13 million 4.9 4.3
1999 2.93 million 4.9 4.0
2000 3.21 million 5.0 4.7
Data: Japan Management & Coordination Agency
JOB-HOPPERS AREN'T DRIVEN BY MONEY...
Japanese workers are more likely to jump for personal growth. In a
survey, one worker at each of 73 Net companies was asked why they joined
a startup.
REASON RESPONSE
Possibility for personal growth 99%
Work-friendly environment 74%
Opportunity to learn new skills 71%
Sense of worth 64%
Creative content 56%
Recognition of individual's contribution 49%
Exposure to latest technology 34%
Future potential 33%
Autonomy 29%
Compensation 4%
Data: Unifi Network, a Division of PriceWaterhouseCoopers
...THEY'RE DRAWN BY SATISFACTION
Japanese who move to Net upstarts work for less money at riskier
companies, but they are happier. Percentage of Japanese satisfied with
ONE-JOB
TOPIC JOB HOPPERS CAREER WORKERS
Type of work 49% 37%
Company stability 36% 49%
Vacations 25% 33%
Pay 16% 20%
Working hours 25% 18%
Data: Japan Life Insurance Culture Center
...BUT THAT MEANS LIVING ON LESS
Workers 30 to 49 years old who switch jobs take pay cuts and spend less.
ONE-JOB
TOPIC CAREER WORKERS JOB HOPPERS DIFFERENCE
Average annual salary $64,104 $53,878 16% less
Annual savings $8,391 $9,548 13% more
Monthly living expenses $2,617 $2,478 6% less
(including rent, home loans)
Data: Japan Life Insurance Culture Center

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