Japan has a national work placement agency called “Hello Work.” Hello Work provides free help to job seekers as well as employers looking to fill positions and provides an essential service in matching these two needs.
In addition, many universities or regional public institutions provide free employment services. When looking to hire employees in a specific field, such as animation or programming, working with a local university or trade school may provide better results than Hello Work.
Private employment agencies also offer another alternative and range from high level management search firms to general purpose hiring. These agencies will usually work on a commission basis. Other private sector options include placing an ad on the internet, or in a newspaper or magazine.
Japan’s Equal Employment Opportunities Law prevents discrimination in hiring on the basis of gender so ads soliciting employees cannot specify a required gender except for certain positions that require either a man or a woman.
If you have any questions about hiring employees for your business in Japan, please contact our office for a legal consultation.