In August, 2007, Japan's unemployment rate rose slightly (0.2 percentage points to 3.8%) for the first time in almost a year. Analysts noted that this increase was not because of a dip in the job market, but because more people have begun actively seeking employment.
Close to 10% of Japan's current labor force is expected to retire within the next five years. The Japanese government and HR professionals have recognized the dangers of this scenario and many companies are introducing quality of life initiatives to lure the passively unemployed back to work. Target groups include the retired (who often come back to work to stay busy, even for lower wages) and women.
According to a 2007 report from Japan's Gender Equality Bureau, in the decade between 1995 and 2005, the proportion of women to men in management positions in Japan increased only slightly from 8.9% to 10.1%. By contrast, this number is around 32% in Germany and 42% in the United States. In 2005, the World Economic Forum ranked Japan 38th of 58 countries in terms of gender equality in the workplace. Several Scandinavian countries topped the list and the US ranked 17th.
Despite the traditional view that women should stay at home after marriage to raise children, women in Japan are increasingly focusing on their own professional development. Ambitious members of this newly developing talent pool are often good choices for hiring managers at multinational companies in Japan. Many foreign companies have begun to send their most promising female employees to training workshops and executive coaching programs. These programs help women join the next generation of leaders by assessing their career goals, honing their leadership skills, and learning the importance of business relationships and self-confidence.
Many international learning and development groups have opened offices in Japan to meet the rising demand for these training courses. Two such organizations are Coach 21 (http://www.coach.co.jp/) and CTI Japan (Coaches Training Institute - http://www.thecoaches.co.jp/).
