It is often said that “Japanese people work too much,” but are there really fewer holidays apart weekends in Japan compared to overseas? In this article, we would like to explain the Japanese public holidays of 2020 to foreigners working or wanting to work in Japan.Many people have the impression that who works in Japan work a lot and often work overtime. But what is the actual situation? we will talk about Japanese holidays in comparison with the situation in other countries, so please refer to it.Countries with more Public Holidays around the WorldFirst, let’s look at the countries with the most amount of holidays around the world.Below are some of the most holiday-filled countries in the world, along with their representative names.Thailand (23 Public Holidays)In Thailand, consumption of alcohol is prohibited on Buddhist-related holidays and election days.for example, on March 6 the Buddha’s birthday is celebrated, therefore the consumption of alcohol on that day is not allowed.May 1st: National Labor DayMay 4th: Coronation DayMay 6th: Wisakha Bucha DayChina (21 Public Holidays)In China per year, they have 3 consecutive holidays. In May they have consecutive holidays for up to 5 days. Also, they have 10 consecutive holidays from January 24 to February 2, which they call “spring festival”, there is also the “mid-autumn festival” which is made up of 8 consecutive holidays. Another well-known holiday is “Labor Day”, which lasts from May 1st to 5th of the same month.Korea (17 Public Holidays)Here are some well-known public holidays in Korea.April 30th: Budda’s BirthdayMay 1st: Labor DayMay 5th: Children’s DayIndia (17 Public Holidays)April 6th: Mahavir Jayanti (Birth of Lord Mahavira, who’s the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism)April 10th: Good Friday (The day when Christians commemorate the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ)May 7th: Buddha Purnima (Buddha’s birthday)May 25th: Id-ul-Fitr (Also called the “Festival of Breaking the Fast”)Colombia (17 Public Holidays)April 5th: Palm Sunday (Celebration for honoring Jesus Christ’s victorious entry into Jerusalem)April 9th: Holy Thursday (The day when Christians commemorates the Washing of the Feet and Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles)April 10th: Good Friday (The day when Christians commemorate the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ)April 12th: Easter also called Resurrection Day (Christian festival which celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ)May 1st: Labor DayMay 25th: The Ascension Day or Holy Thursday (The Feast of the Ascension of Jesus Christ)Reference: Countries with the most Public Holidays around the WorldTranslated from Japanese to English by GtalentThailand is the country with the most amount of holidays in the world with 23 holidays per year. Then, with just 2 days of difference, China takes second place. Korea, India, and Colombia, which have about 17 days of public holidays, follow in 3rd place, but Japan is also in 3rd place with the same number of holidays as these 3 countries.Also, when there are consecutive public holidays in China, such as the New Year holidays, the previous Saturday will be lost due to public holidays. Compared to this, Japan weekends are considered as rest despite consecutive holidays, so in fact, Japan has more holidays than other countries.Japan’s 2020 Public HolidaysDo you know when Japanese public holidays are this year?From now on, we would like to explain about Japanese public holidays in 2020, including the meaning and origin of why that day became a holiday.Public Holidays in Spring (March to May)Let’s take a look at the public holidays on “Spring”, the season when cherry blossoms are famous in Japan. In Japan, there are consecutive holidays in early May. This holiday is called “Golden Week” because it is a long holiday due to consecutive weekends.DateName of the HolidayMeaning of the Holiday3/20Vernal equinox dayThe day when the length of the night and the day are the same4/29Showa dayThe day when people honor the birthday of Emperor Hirohito, the reigning emperor before, during and after World War II5/3Constitution memorial dayThe day in which the 1947 enactment of the Constitution of Japan is commemorated5/4Greenery dayThe day when is celebrated the birthday of the emperor Showa5/5Children’s dayThe day set aside to respect children’s personalities and to celebrate their happiness5/6Observed HolidayConstitution memorial day observedPublic Holidays in Summer (June to August)Next, let’s take a look at the Japanese public holidays in summer, where many fireworks festivals and festivals are held.DateName of the HolidayMeaning of the Holiday7/23Marine day also know as Ocean dayThe day to show appreciation for the oceans7/24National Sports day (old name: Physical Education Day)A holiday commemorating the 1964 Tokyo Olympic games8/10Mountain dayThe day to honor and give thanks to the blessings of the mountains※”Physical Education Day” has been the second Monday of October so far, and the day when it is celebrated will not change even after being renamed to “National Sports Day”.However, only due to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, July 24 will be the National Sports Day.※Mountain Day was originally a holiday celebrated on August 11, but like the National Sports Day, this holiday has been moved to another day due to the Tokyo Olympics. But from 2021 the holiday will return to its previous date.Public Holidays in Autumn (September to November)“Autumn” in Japan is a climatically comfortable season. It is also recognized overseas as an owner of delicious seasonal food and beautiful scenery colorfully colored with autumn leaves.The public holidays of this season are listed belowPublic Holidays in Winter (December to February)It’s the last season, but it doesn’t mean they’re not public holidays in it. The table below summarizes public holidays in the “Winter” of Japan.Also, there is a website where the Cabinet Office provides information about Japanese holidays, so please check it out.ConclusionFrom an overseas perspective, the image of “Japanese people overworking” might be established, but this is not because there are not so many holidays. It might be because the number of used paid holidays in Japan are extremely low compared to other countries.In recent years, many companies have been able to use paid holidays and reduce overtime hours by promoting this work style. It is not so far till Japan reaches the point where the rate of using paid holidays became similar as overseas countries do, and Japan, which has many holidays, may become one of the countries with the most holidays in the world.It would be great if you could read the article about Japanese holidays that we introduced earlier this time and become more interested in Japanese culture.DateName of the HolidayMeaning of the HolidayDateName of the HolidayMeaning of the Holiday9/21Respect for the aged dayA day celebrated annually to honor elderly citizens9/22Autumn equinox dayThe day when the length of the night and the day are the same11/3Culture dayA public holiday held with the purpose to promote culture, arts, and academic endeavor11/23Labor Thanksgiving DayA public holiday held to commemorate labor and production and give one other thanks.1/1New Year’s DayThe day when people celebrate the beginning of a new year1/13Coming of Age DayThe day when Japanese youth officially become adults2/11National Foundation DayThe day when is celebrated the mythological foundation of Japan and the accession of its first emperor, Emperor Jimmu2/23Emperor’s BirhtdayThe day when in celebrated the birthday of the Emperor Naruhito2/24Observed HolidayEmperor’s Birthday Observed

In this article, we would like to briefly explain each type of job in the Japanese IT industry for foreigners who are interested in the Japanese IT industry and students who are about to start job hunting.If you want to understand the Japanese IT industry first, can check the article below explains the classification and structure of the Japanese IT Industry.Let’s Learn Easily About Japanese IT Industry Structure!Jobs Types in the Japanese IT IndustryAs is explained in the article above, in a survey conducted by Human Resociain March 2020 about the number of IT engineers around the globe, Japan was forth in it.IT engineers can be broadly divided into four categories: infrastructure engineers, system operations engineers, application engineers, and system consultants.From now we will briefly explain the occupations in each category.Infrastructure EngineerFirst of all, in the IT industry, infrastructure refers to the composite hardware, software, network resources and services required for the construction, design, operation, and management of an enterprise IT environment.An engineer who is responsible for “design,” “build,” “maintenance,” and “operation” of infrastructure is called an infrastructure engineer.An infrastructure engineer is made up of 5 types of engineers, which are server engineers, network engineers, storage engineers, database engineers, and cloud engineers.Server EngineerA server engineer is a technologist who designs and builds servers such as database server that stores information and internet server used generally internet.Network EngineerA network engineer is a technician who builds and maintains a computer network. Some specific tasks include designing network systems, building circuits and networks based on design documents, also managing and operating to maintain network systems.※Recently, server engineers and network engineers called totally as an infrastructure engineers.Storage EngineerStorage engineer is literally an engineer who manages storage.With the advancement that IT technology has made in these days, data maintenance becomes a very important task. Depending on how the data is handled, it can be probably lead to serious troubles. One of the roles of a storage engineer is to prevent these cases. Also, when a company handles a large amount of data, it is the job of the storage engineer to make the data available in an efficient way.DataBase EngineerDatabase engineers mainly develop and create databases using MySQL, Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, based on customer needs and opinions.After developing the database, its management and operation is also part of their work.Cloud EngineerCurrently, the operation of services and data on the cloud is becoming mainstream. A cloud engineer is an engineer who develops a system for designing, building, operating and maintenance all on the cloud.Since most web applications started using cloud computing systems, the demand for cloud engineers will increase further in the future.System Operations EnigennerThere are two types of system operations engineers, one is called DevOps engineer and the other one is SRE engineer.DevOps EngineerFirst of all, DevOps is a technical term created based on the idea that developers and operators work together to develop faster.Being a DevOps engineer means creat and operate infrastructure environments like the cloud or modifying applications to improve development and operations. Unlike the infrastructure engineer, the DevOps engineer has the feature that when something goes wrong, he or she can take actions such as modifying the application by himself.Site Reliability Engineer (SRE)The SRE is an engineer who aims to improve the performance, availability, expandability, security to secure the reliability of the IT system.Some works carried out by a SRE Engineer are:Design and Construction of an Infrastructure (Server or Network)Monitoring and alert designationTroubleshootingOperations AutomationApplication EngineerApplication engineer is involved in the development of the system and applications on the PC that we normally use. When people generally talk about IT engineers, what people tend to imagine is an application engineer. However, the skills required for application engineers differ depending on the purpose, so this time we would like to introduce four types of application engineers.Embedded EngineerAn embedded engineer is an engineer who creates programs used for familiar products such as automobiles and home appliances.Packaging EngineerA package software is a software developed by a software company for use by many customers. Engineers who are responsible for the additional development and maintenance of such packages (antivirus software, etc.) are called packaging engineers.Front-end EngineerBefore we start talking about front-end engineers, let us explain what’s front-end means.The front-end is the part that operates on the client-side (where the user can interact with the product directly).Front-end engineers are engineers who design and implement front-end parts with using HTML, CSS, JavaScript (jQuery) according to the design created by web designer.Back-end EngineerFirstly, back-end means the part that operates on the server-side (where the client can not interact with the product directly).A back-end engineer is an engineer who performs coding of server-side in the building of Web services, EC sites, and also the construction of a database system on the back-end side. Furthermore, a back-end engineer is responsible for defining, designing, and constructing requirements for server-side processing such as Web services and EC sites.IT ConsaltantIT consultant is someone who proposes a system to solve the problems that a company has after understanding the current situation of the client and carrying out an analysis on it.ConclusionWe hope that this article will give international students and new graduates who are starting job hunting in Japan a better understanding of the types of jobs in the IT industry in Japan.

In this article, we summarized the companies that are popular among Japanese university students who are going to do job hunting in 2021 and their reasons for international students who are looking for jobs in Japan. Unlike other countries, this is a result uniquely Japanese. If you are a foreigner looking for a job in Japan, please use this as a reference.Ranking of popular Japanese companies for Japanese university students(2021)Career-tasu Job Hunting21, a job search information medium for new graduate students, surveyed college students planning to graduate in March 2021 regarding companies where they want to find employment. The ranking is shown below.RankName of CompanyIndustryNo.1Tokyo Marine NichidoInsuranceNo.2Sompo JapanInsuranceNo.3Itochu CorporationGeneral TradingNo.4Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance GroupInsuranceNo.5Japan AirlinesAir TransportationNo.6All Nippon AirwaysAir TransportationNo.7Sony CorporationConglomerateNo.8Mitsubishi CorporationGeneral TradingNo.9SuntoryFoods & BeveragesNo.10ToyotaAutomotive ManufacturerReference：Career-tasu Job Hunting21/Ranking of Popular CompaniesBasically, only large companies have been focused in young people, and it is the same tendency in other countries. However, it is unthinkable in other countries that the first, second, and fourth place are insurance companies. What do current Japanese college students look for in employment and why do they choose insurance companies instead of the most popular Internet companies and manufacturers abroad?Why Are Insurance Companies Popular in Japan?While many companies have reduced the number of recruitment due to the influence of the new coronavirus, it seems that insurance companies have not reduced the number of recruitments. These companies have the impression that they have relatively high salaries and are stable, and that it is becoming popular that a wide range of students can apply, regardless of their major in university.In addition, the insurance industry, which was mainly a car insurance business, considering the possibility that demand for cars will disappear, has been focusing on the insurance that is applied in the event of an earthquake or other natural disasters in recent years. The insurance industry would has a high growth potential.With three insurance companies listed, it seems that job-seeking students in 2021 are looking for a stable workplace rather than a challenging workplace.Companies Whose Popularity has Risen and FallenWithin the companies ranked in the top 10 this year, some companies are popular every year, like JAL and ITOCHU, but some companies have risen noticeably in the ranking having a much higher position, like Tokio Marine and Nichido Fire Insurance.From now on, we would like to explain in detail about the five most distinctive companies in the ranking.Tokyo Marine NichidoTokyo Marine Nichido ranked 10th in the ranking of popular companies last year but ranked 1st this year. The factors behind this may be the high annual income and the international environment.High Annual InconmeAlthough the basic salary of Tokyo Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance is not much different from others insurance companies, the bonus received by each employee has a great impact on the annual income. The average annual income of this company is about 8.35 million yen, but according to the commitment and results of their employees, it is often seen that it exceeds 10 million yen.A bonus of about 600,000 yen was paid to a new graduate employee in the second month after joining the company, which makes it more attractive in terms of income than other companies. In addition to the monthly salary, employees can receive up to 100,000 yen in rent subsidies, which is excellent in welfare and can be said to be an attractive company in terms of treatment.International environmentTokyo Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance is expanding its business not only domestically but internationally as well, with approximately 45 overseas bases. Being able to work in different big cities around the world is also a reason for its popularity. Therefore, even in the working environment, diversity is spreading and it seems to be a popular place of employment for international students and overseas people.Itochu CorporationIn Japan, trading companies (Shousha) are a very influential type of business. In particular, ITOCHU Corporation, Mitsubishi Corporation, Sumitomo Corporation, etc., which are said to be “general trading companies (Sougo-Shousha)”, are always employment destinations that are popular with university students.What is a General Trading Company (Sougou-Shousha)?General trading companies procure various products such as food, energy resources, and machinery on a global scale, and sell them not only in Japan but worldwide. They have big projects which have a big impact on the country, and they also have manufacturers and financial companies, that’s why they are expanding globally.High Annual IncomeThe average annual income of Itochu Corporation is about 14 million yen, which is a very high rate among Japanese companies. Even in the first year of new graduates, the average annual salary of a general-work employee is about 5.5 million yen, which means that a high standard of salary will be obtained from the first year after joining the company.Acquisition of Various SkillsMajor general trading companies have excellent human resources from Japan and the world, and not only is there an environment where they can learn business know-how, but there is also the aspect that they can acquire various skills from excellent human resources. One of the reasons why it is so popular is that you can learn languages such as English and the skills to do business globally such as finance.Japan Airlines (JAL)Specific Benefits for AirlinesIn addition to general benefits such as social insurance and transportation allowance, there is an employee discount system for air tickets. This system is a JAL-specific benefit that allows employees to purchase air tickets at a discount of 90%. There is no doubt that it is a benefit for students who like to travel.High Annual IncomeThe average annual income of the aviation industry is also high, and among them, the average annual income of JAL is about 8.27 million yen, which is the top class in the industry.SuntoryOverseas Expansion SuccessSpeaking of Japan’s major beverage makers, there are Kirin, Asahi, Suntory, etc. Among them, Suntory has always been very popular. The reason for this is the charm of the corporate culture. As the founder’s famous phrase says “Yatte-minahare”, wich means “Just try it”. Suntory is challenging various new things, and it is also Suntory that has actually succeeded in expanding overseas first than the others beverage companies.Unlisted CompanyAs the Suntory Group is a privately held company, it does not need to produce short-term results for its shareholders, so it may be one of its attractions to be able to engage in long-term projects.ToyotaWhy has it become less Popular?Speaking of Toyota, it is the company with the highest market capitalization in Japan and the world-famous automobile manufacturer. Although it is still a popular company for Japanese university students to find employment. This year Toyota was at the 10th place of popularity, but compared to a few years ago, the popularity of job hunting students is gradually decreasing. This is because young people today are less interested in automobiles, and considering the future of the automobile industry, it is not necessarily a growth industry. As more and more students are no longer interested in cars, the number of students who want to work for an automobile manufacturer may continue to decline.ConclusionDue to the corona shock, university students scheduled to graduate in 2021 are looking for a job which gives them an economic and labor stability besides looking for a job of their liking. Therefore, we think that companies with high stability will continue to be ranked high in the future. In addition, as the number of students seeking new ways of thinking and international communication has increased in recent years, companies such as Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Co., Ltd. and ITOCHU Corporation that are focusing on diversity and international development are becoming popular for job hunters.We sincerely hope that by finding a job in Japan, you will be able to achieve your desired career development.If you are an international student who is thinking of finding a job in Japan and want to get a job related to IT, please register with G Talent, a recruitment agency specializing in foreign IT engineers. Professional consultants will help you with your job hunting for free.

When a foreigner starts working in Japan, it is important the company they will work for. Then it comes another important point, that is the place where they will live. It is common to rent an apartment in places where you can easily go to work, but there are other options as well, and some companies can reduce the burden of housing costs with their peculiar welfare system.This time, we will explain what you should know about welfare-related housing allowance at Japanese companies if you live in Japan.Japan’s Housing Subsidy System that Reduces the Burden of Housing CostsHousing costs are a major part of living expenses. Foreigners living in Japan for the first time do not know the rent market, so various concerns will arise. For reference, we will introduce the rent market price in Tokyo.Rental market price in Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, ChibaAccording to the “2018 Survey of Housing and Land Statistics, Basic Tabulation on Houses and Households” (Statistics Bureau, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, September 30, 1980), “Rents / rents per month” for three prefectures in Tokyo are It is like.・ Tokyo: 81,001 yen・ Kanagawa Prefecture: 68,100 yen・ Saitama Prefecture: 59,358 yen・ Chiba: 57,421 yenThe Tokyo metropolitan area is out of the 80,000-yen range, the next highest is Kanagawa prefecture with about 68,000 yen, and the Saitama and Chiba prefectures are in a 50,000 yen range. Many companies are concentrated in Tokyo, so those who want to live close to work should be prepared for those rent expenses. Of course, there are many Japanese who live in Kanagawa, Saitama and Chiba and go to work in Tokyo. For foreigners who want to reduce their rent, or who want to prioritize the size and layout of their homes, one option is to find a home in one of the three neighboring prefectures.Work with peace of mind at a company with a housing allowance!Many Japanese companies have a housing subsidy program as part of their welfare. For example, “Company A with a monthly income of 300,000 yen and no housing subsidy” or “Company B with monthly income of 270,000 yen and half of rent as housing subsidy”, which is the most attractive company? From a medium- to long-term perspective, you may be able to judge that “it is better to choose Company B”. So, when choosing a company in Japan, be sure to judge not only the salary but also the availability and content of the housing allowance system.What Kind of Housing Allowance Systems Exist?In general, Japanese companies provide a certain amount of monthly payment to employees who meet the conditions stipulated by the company, but there are several other patterns. Let’s explain about the general housing assistance system.01: Rent subsidy (Housing allowance)The most common housing assistance system is rent subsidy (housing allowance). Rent subsidy is a welfare program in which the company pays a portion of the employee’s housing expenses as an allowance. It is provided for the purpose of subsidizing rent for employees living in rental housing and subsidizing mortgages for employees living in their own homes. Even if there is a rent subsidy system, the terms and conditions of payment vary depending on the company.02: Rented company houseBorrowed company housing is a system in which employees live in houses rented by the company. It is common for a company to rent a property and collect a portion of the rent from the resident employee. The benefit is that the company pays a fixed percentage of the rent, so it can be cheaper to live in there than renting it yourself. In the past, it was common for companies to lease entire buildings and lend each house to employees, but recently employees often search for properties within the conditions and rent them under the company name.In addition, in the case of the rent subsidy described above, since it is paid on top of the monthly salary, the tax burden and insurance premium burden on employees will increase accordingly. On the other hand, rented company housing means that employees pay a fixed rent to the company, so there is no increase in tax burden or insurance burden.03: Dormitory for employeesAn employee dormitory is a building owned by the company for the residence of employees. Some dormitories are furnished and provide a telephone line, and some are equipped with meals (meals are offered cheaply). When you move in, you pay a fixed amount of rent, but you can use it for a much lower price than renting a nearby property yourself.However, employee dormitories have been declining in recent years due to the increasing number of employees who do not use dormitories even if they have dormitories, and the fact that many buildings were built during the period of high economic growth and are aging. As a result, finding a company with a dormitory could be difficult.Examples of Japanese Companies Housing SubsidiesThe housing subsidy system is a non-statutory welfare that is provided by the company, so some companies do not have this system. According to the “Comprehensive Survey on Working Conditions in 2015” (Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare), 45.8% of all companies provide some housing allowance. By industry, IT and other information and communications businesses accounted for 56.0%, indicating that more than half of companies provided housing allowances.Of course, even if you have a housing subsidy system, the details will vary from company to company. For reference, examples of the conditions and amount of payment of the housing assistance system are explained below.Payment conditions for rent subsidies (Housing allowance)There are many cases where “distance” from the company is the condition for rent subsidy, such as ” ¥¥ monthly for employees living within ◯ km from the company.” The distance from the company varies depending on the company, such as 1.5 km, 2 km, 3 km, and 5 km. Some companies use the “number of stations” as a condition, such as “within ◯ stations from the nearest station to the company” instead of the distance.In addition, some companies provide rent subsidy after 3 years of joining the company, as a condition of rent subsidy regardless of where they live.Payment of rent subsidy (Housing allowance)According to the “2015 Survey on Working Conditions” (Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare), data indicate that the average amount of housing allowance per person is 17,000 yen. By industry, the information and communications industry, including IT, was ¥ 25,312, much higher than the average.The actual amount of payment is set widely by the company, such as 15,000-yen, 30,000 yen, and 50,000 yen. In addition, there are companies that define it as “50% of rent”. However, in this case, there is often a limit.Due to the shortage of human resources in the IT industry in recent years, more companies are introducing new rent subsidy systems or increasing the amount of rent subsidies to acquire excellent human resources.Size and layout of rented company house and employee dormitoriesThe size and layout of rented company house and employee dormitories may vary from company to company. It usually depends entirely on whether the resident is single or married.The company dormitories and employee dormitories where single employees are occupied generally are one-room size, 1K, or 1DK floor plans, with rooms ranging from 6 to 8 tatami mats (10 to 14 square meters). For rented company housing and employee dormitories where married employees are occupied by 3 to 4 family members, it is common to arrange a layout of about 2DK to 3LDK. The average goes from 19.4㎡ to 23.4㎡.ConclusionForeigners working in Japan for the first time want to keep their expenses as low as possible until work is on track and life is stable. In this regard, companies that have systems such as rent subsidies (housing allowances), rented company housing and employee dormitories can help reduce the rent burden. When researching Japanese companies, be sure to check if there is a housing subsidy in the benefits.If you have a rent subsidy (housing allowance), be sure to check the payment conditions. For example, if “3 years of service” is a condition, you will not be able to receive assistance for the time being. In some cases, it is not eligible for payment. Be sure to check with your HR representative if you have any questions.

Nowadays, the words “Telework”, “Zaitaku-kinmu”, and “remote work” have become popular all over Japan due to the influence of coronavirus. At GTalent, a recruitment agency for foreigners, there is an increasing need for registrants to work in telework.In this article, We would like to introduce you to what kind of work you can do　in telework or working from home in Japan. If you are a foreigner who wants to work from home or other teleowork in Japan, please use this article as a reference.What is “Telework” or “Zaitaku-kinmu” in JapanCurrently, it is a word that is often used in news and SNS, but what is “telework”? Let us explain it first. “Telework” by the Japan Telework Association is made up of a combination of two English words, “Tele” and “work”.It means working from a place other than the office such as a home, cafe, or a rental space using information and communication technology.Reference – Japan Telework Association/Meaning of TeleworkAlso, it is sometimes called “remote work” instead of “telework”, but there is no significant difference in meaning. In Japan, the word telework is the word that has been used by governments since ancient times.The word “Zaitaku-kinmu” means working from home, so it is included in “telework”.Telework situation in Japan and OverseasTelewrok situation in JapanWe will inform you of the situation of telework in Japan based on a survey by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.Reference:Survery results on the introduction and effects of teleworkIn Japan, Telework is being introduced depending on the industry, but according to the results of these surveys, the number of companies that have introduced telework in Japan from 2013 to 2019 has increased from 9.3% to 19.1%.How much has the impact of the coronavirus increased?Due to the spread of coronavirus infection, the declaration of emergency was announced in April 2020, and the number of companies whose employees stop working in an office has increased significantly since then.According to a survey conducted by the Persol Institute, the number of companies conducting telework in early April increased to 27.9%.Reference:Survey conducted by Persol InstituteTelework situation at OverseasAccording to the report from MIC of Japan, the penetration rate of telework overseas is high in North America (such as the United States and Canada) and is still in the process of developing in Asia.Reference:Telework overseas diffusion trends/MICIn the United States and other countries where telework was introduced at an early stage, working at home has become a common practice.Conditions for jobs that are suitable for telework and that are notSubtable jobs for teleworkIn recent years, the number of companies introducing telework is increasing in Japan, but not all companies can introduce telework. In general, telework can be introduced if the job meets the following conditions.Jobs that can be completed on a computerJobs that can be completed by one personSecurity background is arranged or security-safe jobsFewer opportunities to interact with external customersJobs not suitable for teleworkOn the other hand, the conditions of work that do not apply to the introduction of telework are as follows.Jobs that are done by multiple peopleJobs that requires a specific machineJobs that require face-to-face communication with customersFor example, sales, hospitality business, medical care/welfare business, etc., which have many opportunities to interact with customers, so these jobs would be difficult to introduce a telework. Also, it is considered difficult to perform telework in the manufacturing industry, which uses specialized machines.What kind of jobs can we work in telework and working from home?We would like to introduce a lot of telework jobs in Japan from now.IT related jobsTelework is the most pervasive industry for IT industry. Telework has been introduced in several jobs, but the typical jobs are as follows.System engineersMost of the work of a system engineer goes to a computer by himself, and most of the work can be managed and performed online. we can say this is a typical job proper for telework because internal meetings and client needs are completed by video conferencing.Web designerAs with system engineers, WEB designers mainly work on PCs. It is a job to build a website, etc. We can say it is proper for telework because customer requests and consultations can be handled by video conferencing.Sales related jobsWe can say that sales-related jobs are the jobs that telework is increasing most. So far, sales jobs had been a style of visiting customers, but many companies are updating the style of sales, and telework is the most common in the following two jobs.Inside salesLately, the number of cases where the sales organization is divided into outside sales and inside sales is increasing in Japanese companies. The purpose of inside sales is mainly to develop new customers by phone or email and connect them to outside sales. It is proper for telework because the basic work is to make calls, emails, inputting customer information into the system etc.Customer supportIn customer support, the job is to follow up with customers who already have a contract, and most of the time it is done through telephone or email rather than face-to-face communication. There is some customer support that need to go to the customer’s office, but in most cases, this is a work that can be done at home if you have a computer, telephone, and internet connection.Creative related JobsWhen it comes to creative-related jobs, it can be said that there are many cases where you can work from telework originally. It can be said that the style of working at home and a cafe rather than the office is major in creative related jobs such as writers, designers, and producers. It causes of that there are many outsourced jobs which not need an office.Clerical-related JobsIt can be said that most of the clerical work is suitable for telework because it is often done by one person in a computer. However, about clerical work, there are many companies have not yet introduced telework. Since uch companies may still have paper documents, you should work at office in the case. Also, since general affairs and others need to receive postal items, there are cases where they have to come to the office, so you must be careful in advance when looking for a telework job related to clerical work.OthersIn addition to the IT-related, sales-related, creative-related, and clerical-related jobs that have been introduced so far, the introduction of telework is rising for the following jobs.TeacherSpeaking of teachers, the image of teaching directly to students is strong, but since the number of online learning services such as English conversation has increased in recent years, the number of cases where people can work from home is increasing.Planning / Management OperationsTelework is also expanding in planning and management operations due to the penetration of communication tools and business-IT tools. In general image, management positions have to go to the office because they are responsible for the organization, but recently, in order to spread the telework for staffs, the number of cases in which managers take the lead in telework is increasing.ConclusionCompared to a few years ago, more and more companies have introduced telework in Japan. For companies, by introducing telework, it is possible to hire human resources who can only work at home and to improve the efficient work style and work-life balance of employees, which will reduce the turnover rate.If you are a foreigner who is interested in a company that has introduced telework at this opportunity in IT-related jobs in Japan, please register with GTalent, a recruitment agency specializing in foreign IT engineers. A professional consultant will support you in changing jobs for free.

最近コロナウィルスの影響によって日本中で「テレワーク」や「在宅勤務」、「リモートワーク」という言葉が多く使われるようになりました。外国人向けの人材紹介会社であるGTalentにおいても、登録者からテレワークで働きたいというニーズが増えています。この記事では、日本でテレワークや在宅勤務ができる仕事はどのようなものかをご紹介したいと思います。日本国内において、自宅など働けるテレワークの仕事を希望する外国人の方々は是非ご参考にしてみてください。テレワークや在宅勤務とは？現在、ニュースやSNSでも多く使われている言葉でありますが、「テレワーク」とは何か？をまず説明させていただきます。日本テレワーク協会によるテレワーク「Telework」は、テレ「Tele」とワーク「work」の2つの英単語の組み合わせからできています。情報通信技術を活用して、自宅やカフェ、レンタルスペースなどのオフィス以外の場所から働くことを指します(日本テレワーク協会/テレワークとは)。また、「テレワーク」ではなく、「リモートワーク」と言われることもありますが、大きな意味の違いは特にありません。日本においては、テレワークという言葉の方が、昔から政府などでも使われている言葉になります。そして、最近の「在宅勤務」という言葉は、「自宅」から働くという意味になるため、テレワークの中に含まれる言葉になります。日本と海外のテレワークの状況について日本におけるテレワークの状況日本におけるテレワークの状況を「テレワークの導入やその効果に関する調査結果（総務省）」による調査をもとにご案内をさせていただきます。日本においては、業界によってテレワークの導入は可能か不可能か分かれてきますが、これらの調査結果によりますと、2013年から2019年まで国内でテレワークを導入している企業は、9.3%から19.1%まで増加しています。コロナウィルスの影響によりどこまで増加したのか？コロナウィルスの感染拡大のため、緊急事態宣言が2020年４月に発表されたことで、それ以降に従業員が出社を控える企業が大幅に増加しました。パーソル研究所が実施したアンケート調査によると、4月上旬にテレワークを実施されている企業は27.9%までに増加しています。海外におけるテレワークの状況総務省の「テレワークの海外普及動向」によると、海外でのテレワークの普及率は北米（アメリカやカナダなど）では高く、アジア圏ではまだ発展の途中であることがわかりました。早い段階でテレワークを導入したアメリカなどでは、自宅で勤務することが一般的な働き方までに浸透しています。テレワークに向いている仕事と向いていない仕事の条件テレワークに向いている仕事近年、テレワークを導入している企業が日本国内で増加しておりますが、すべての企業がテレワークを導入できるわけではありません。一般的には、以下のような条件を満たす仕事であればテレワークの導入が可能となります。パソコンで作業が完結できる1人でも完結できる業務セキュリティ環境が整備されている、もしくはセキュリティ上安全な業務外部の顧客と接する機会が少ないテレワークに向いていない仕事もう一方では、テレワークの導入に当てはまらない仕事の条件は以下のようなものになります。複数の人間で行う仕事専用の機械が必要な仕事顧客と対面でのコミュニケーションが必要な仕事例えば、顧客と接する機会が多い販売や接客業、医療・福祉業などが上げられます。また、専用の機械などを用いて行う製造業の生産などもテレワークは難しいと考えられます。テレワーク・在宅勤務ができる仕事とは？それでは、日本国内でテレワークが多い仕事をご紹介していきます。IT関連の仕事IT関連の仕事はテレワークが最も浸透している業種です。様々な仕事でテレワークが導入されていますが、代表的なものをあげると以下のような仕事になります。システムエンジニアシステムエンジニアの仕事は、作業のほとんどが一人でパソコンに向かっており、仕事の管理や業務もオンライン上でできることがほとんどです。社内会議やクライアントのニーズなどはビデオ会議などで済ませるため、テレワークに向いている代表的な仕事と言えるでしょう。WEBデザイナーWEBデザイナーもシステムエンジニアと同様に、パソコンでの作業がメインの職種であります。WEBサイトなどの構築を行う仕事であり、顧客の要望や相談はテレビ電話などで打ち合わせができますからテレワークに適しているといえます。セールス関連の仕事セールス関連の仕事は最もテレワークが増加していっている仕事と言えます。これまで営業と言えば顧客先に訪問して行うというスタイルでしたが、多くの企業で営業のスタイルを見直しており、特に以下の２つの仕事はテレワークが最も浸透しています。インサイドセールス最近では、セールス組織をアウトサイドセールスとインサイドセールスに分けるケースが増えています。インサイドセールスの役割は、新規顧客を電話やメールなどで開拓し、それをアウトサイドセールスにつなぐ仕事がメインとなります。基本的な仕事が電話やメール、システムに顧客情報などを入力することになるため、テレワークに適しているといえます。カスタマーサポートカスタマーサポートでは、すでの契約がある顧客に対してフォローをする仕事であり、対面でコミュニケーションではなく、電話やメールを通して行うことがほとんどです。顧客のオフィスなどに行うカスタマーサポートもありますが、ほとんどの場合は、パソコン、電話、ネット環境が整っていれば自宅でもできるお仕事です。クリエイティブ関連の仕事クリエイティブ関連の仕事に関しては、もともとテレワークで働けるケースが多い仕事と言えます。ライター、デザイナー、プロデューサーなどもともとオフィスではなく、自宅やカフェで仕事をするスタイルが浸透している仕事と言えます。また、業務委託などで行う仕事が多いため、そもそもオフィスを設けていないということも考えられます。事務関連の仕事事務職のほとんどはパソコンに向けて一人で作業することが多いためテレワークには向いている職種であるといえます。しかし、事務職に関して、ITの導入が遅れている企業などは、紙の書類などが残っていることもあるため、テレワークの導入が進んでいない企業も多くあります。また、総務などは郵便物を受け取ったりする必要があるため、オフィスに出社しなければいけないケースもあるため、事務関連のテレワークの仕事を探すときには、事前に注意をしなければなりません。その他これまで紹介したIT関連やセールス関連、クリエイティブ関連や事務関連など以外にも以下のような仕事はテレワークの導入が増えていいます。講師講師といえば、生徒に向かって直接教えるイメージは強いですが、近年、英会話をはじめとしたオンラインの学習サービスが増加しているため、自宅にいながら仕事をできるケースが増えています。企画・管理職企画やマネジメント業務においても、コミュニケーションツールやビジネスITツールの浸透により、テレワークが広がってきています。管理職の場合、責任があるためオフィスに行かなければならないという印象がありますが、最近ではメンバーのテレワークを浸透させるために、管理職が率先してテレワークで仕事を進めるケースも増えています。まとめ数年前と比べて、日本国内ではテレワークを導入している企業がますます増加しています。企業にとっては、テレワークを導入することで、自宅でしか働けない人材を確保することができたり、従業員の効率的な働き方やワークライフバランスの向上をすることで、離職率を低下させるという目的があります。もし、これを機にテレワークが導入されている企業に魅力を感じ、日本でIT関係への就職・転職を検討される外国人の方がいらっしゃいましたら、是非、外国人ITエンジニア専門の人材紹介会G Talent（ジータレント）にご登録ください。プロのコンサルタントが無料で転職活動をサポートいたします。

GTalent, which supports the employment and job changes of foreigners living in Japan, has summarized the common questions and anxiety in the Q & A format when foreigners are going to work or change jobs in Japan. If you are considering to find a job in Japan, please feel free to refer to it!FAQ for Job Hunting in Japan! 14 Questions and AnxietiesQ1. How many foreigners work in Japan?A. 1,658,804 foreign workers are working in Japan as of the end of October 2019（“The employment status about foreigner in Japan” by Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare）.It has increased by about 200,000 foreign workers compared to the previous year. In Japan, there is a shortage of labor force due to issues such as population decline and aging society, so various industries are actively accepting foreign labor force.Since there are about 60 million employees in Japan (As of March 2020, “Labor Survey” by Statistics Bureau, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications), about 2.7 out of every 100 are foreign workers.Q2. What do I need to work in Japan?A. To work in Japan, you need a workable visa. Working hours will vary depending on the type of visa, so it is recommended to check the visa type in advance on the website of TOKYO EMPLOYMENT SERVICE CENTER FOR FOREIGNERS.If you are a foreigner working as a regular employee in Japan, a representative working visa is a status of residence for “ENGINEER / SPECIALIST IN HUMANITIES / INTERNATIONAL SERVICES “.You can work in Japan without obtaining a working visa, if you need some residence visas like “Permanent Resident”, “Japanese spouse”, “Permanent spouse” or “Long term residence” so on.Q3. In which fields do foreigners most work in Japan?A. As of the end of October 2019, the percentage of manufacturing industry was the highest at 29.1%. Next are the service industry at 16.1% and retail / wholesale industry at12.8%（“The employment status about foreigner in Japan” by Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare）.In recent years, as the number of foreign tourists visiting Japan has increased, the number of foreigners working for sales and tourism is increasing. also, there is a shortage of IT engineers in Japan, and the number of foreigners working as IT engineers has been increasing significantly recently.Q4. From what countries are the employees working in japan?A: As of the end of October 2019, the countries of origin of foreign workers are China 418,000 (25.2%), Vietnam 401,000 (24.2%) and Philippines 179,000 (10.8%). In recent years, the number of people from Southeast Asian countries such as Vietnam has been increasing especially（“The employment status about foreigner in Japan” by Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare）.Q5. In which city of Japan are foreigners working?A: As of the end of October 2019, the percentage of cities in Japan where foreigners are working is 26.6% in Tokyo, 8.0% in Aichi, and 7.3% in Osaka（“The employment status about foreigner in Japan” by Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare）.After all, there are a lot of foreigners working in the capital, Tokyo.Q6. Are there some difference between Japanese and foreigner when working in Japan?A. First of all, Japanese law prohibits to discriminate working benefits based on nationality.If you have the same occupation and position as a Japanese worker, your salary is basically the same as a Japanese worker. And also, when applying for a working visa, it is necessary that the salary is equivalent with Japanese in the same positions except for some cases.Q7. How much Japanese language skills do I need to work in Japan?A. The Japanese language skills required vary depending on the job type, but generally, business level Japanese ability (JLPT N2 or higher) is required. However, there are foreigners who are employed as English teachers or engineers of some IT companies even if they cannot speak Japanese.Q8. When working at a Japanese company, is it difficult to take a major position unless you are Japanese, as the word “glass ceiling” means?A. Japanese companies that have a long history and old ideas tend to have such ideas. However, there are many cases in which foreigners are playing a major position in companies that are expanding globally in emerging IT companies.Removing the “glass ceiling” has become a challenge for all Japanese companies promoting global and diversity. In addition, since the number of foreign workers has increased in the past few years, it is expected that foreigners will play an important role in many companies in the future.Q9. What is the flow of hiring for Japanese companies?A: The flow of hiring Japanese companies is not much different from other countries. In general, documents screening → interview (2 to 3 times) → offer. In some cases, some companies carry out pre-employment aptitude tests.Q10. Can I find a job in Japan while I am overseas?A: It is possible to have a job interview with a Japanese company while living overseas. Especially nowdays, the number of Japanese companies that complete the selection online is increasing. However, many Japanese companies place importance on not only skills and experience but also “personality”, so there are cases where the first interview is conducted by video call, but in the end, the applicant go to Japan and have a finally job interview. It is a common case. Therefore, if you are looking for a job in Japan, it would be easier to find it if you come to Japan.Q11. Is a Japanese resume absolutely necessary when applying for a Japanese company?A: It depends on the company you applied for. For jobs offers that do not require Japanese ability, Japanese resumes are often unnecessary when applying. However, in most cases, Japanese resumes are required when applying for jobs that require Japanese ability.Q12. I often see “regular employees”(Sei Shain) and “contract employees”(Keiyaku Shain) when Japanese companies are hiring. What is the difference?A: The main difference is the employment period. Full-time employees (Sei-Shain) have a fixed-term employment style with no fixed working period, and contract employees (Keiyaku-Shain) have a fixed-term employment style with a fixed working period. If you are hired as a full-time employee, you don’t have to worry about being dismissed unless there are major problems with the company’s situation or working style.Q13.What kind of methods are available for finding a job after coming to Japan?A: If you are a foreigner looking for a job in Japan, the job advertisement site is most often used. For IT engineers and professionals with management skills, they often use recruitment agencies. If you are looking for a job in Japan, please refer to the following articles for reference. Although it is for IT engineers, it will be useful for other occupations as well.How to Search Jobs for Software Engineers in Japan!Q14. What happens to the work visa procedure if I come to Japan on a working holiday and work as a full-time employee?A: To switch from a working holiday to a workable visa, you will need to apply for a new status of residence. Therefore, it is highly possible that you will temporarily return to your home country for the procedure. (The information is at the end of May 2020).ConclusionFor those who are thinking of finding a job or changing jobs in Japan for the first time, please use the “FAQ” described above. If you are an IT engineer looking for a job in Japan, please register with GTalent, a recruitment agency specializing in foreign IT engineers. A professional consultant will support you in changing jobs for free.

日本特有の福利厚生とも言われている「健康診断」。外国人ITエンジニアからすると、どんな検査を行うか不安になるはずです。そこで、健康診断の内容を詳しく解説し、日本の素晴らしい福利厚生（健康診断）をご紹介していきます。すべての外国人労働者に関わる日本の健康診断事情年々、深刻な人手不足が進行している日本。外国人労働者の受け入れを積極的に行う企業も増えています。外国人労働者を採用する際には、継続的な就労が可能であることを証明するために、健康診断の実施と健康診断書の提出が必要とされています。これは、日本の安全衛生法が適用されるためであり、企業側が労働者の健康を確保するという責任のもと実施しています。そのため、外国人労働者の方たちは母国と日本の文化や法律の違いを把握し、健康診断に対する知識を高める必要があります。会社が健康診断を行う目的と義務日本企業では当たり前のように実施されている健康診断。日本人でも外国人でも関係なくすべての従業員が診断を受ける必要がある目的や義務についてご説明します。健康診断を行う目的企業が従業員に対して健康診断を行う目的は、生活習慣病などの病気を早期に発見して治療することや、病気を未然に予防するため。また、健康診断を定期的に実施することにより、日常生活の中で自覚していない症状や、今後発症するリスクのある病気を発見できる可能性があります。企業が健全な経営を行うためにも、従業員の健康維持は最重要テーマのひとつといえるでしょう。健康診断を行う義務労働安全衛生法により、企業は健康診断を実施する義務があります。人材を雇用して利益を上げているため、従業員の健康や身体の安全を管理する「使用者責任」のもと、労働環境に配慮しなければなりません。近年、働き方改革により過度な残業などは減少していますが、健康を損なうような過酷な業務や長時間労働をさせた結果、従業員が病気や事故に陥ってしまうと、企業側は安全配慮義務を怠ったとして責任を負うことになる。つまり、従業員の健康を守ることが、企業を守ることに繋がるのです。会社が実施する健康診断の内容労働安全衛生法第66条に基づき、事業者（企業）は従業員に対して定められた健康診断を実施する義務がありますが、具体的にどのような診断内容があるのでしょうか。ここからは、健康診断の種類や費用などについて解説していきます。健康診断の種類健康診断には大きく分けて「一般健康診断」と「特殊健康診断」があります。・一般健康診断常時使用する労働者を対象にした、すべての企業と職種に実施が義務付けられている健康診断。雇入れ時健康診断や毎年1回行う定期健康診断をはじめ、6カ月以上の海外派遣労働者が対象となる健康診断、給食従業員の検便などがあります。・特殊健康診断労働安全衛生法で定められている有害業務に従事する労働者を対象にした健康診断。対象となるのは、「高気圧業務」「放射線業務」「特定化学物質業務」「石綿業務」「鉛業務」「四アルキル鉛業務」「有機溶剤業務」の7つの業務になります。健康診断の費用負担は誰？厚生労働省の通達によれば、健康診断の費用は法律で事業者に実施の義務を課している以上、事業者が負担すべきものであるとされています。そのため、日本企業では会社負担で健康診断を受診することが一般的であり、健康診断を受けるためにかかった交通費も含まれます。そのため、診断に関わる従業員の費用負担はありません。健康診断の時間の目安病院までの移動時間や待ち時間、検査時間をすべて含めた場合、企業・病院ごとによって健康診断の所要時間は異なります。それらを踏まえた上で、平均的な目安としては最大で半日、診断がスムーズにいけば1時間程度。ただし、病院の混雑状況や女性の場合や検査項目の数によって、診断時間が長引くケースがあるので、余裕を持ったスケジュールを組むようにしましょう。「雇入れ時健康診断」の詳細雇入れ時健康診断とは、企業に入社する際に実施される健康診断のこと。労働安全衛生規則第43条の「事業者は、常時使用する労働者を雇い入れるときは、当該労働者に対し、医師による健康診断を行わなければならない。」という内容に基づき、企業側の義務として定められています。外国人の技能実習生の場合は、配属される前後3ヶ月以内に健康診断の実施が必要であり、母国で健康診断を行っていたとしても日本国内の医療機関で実施しなければなりません。本来は企業への配属後に健康診断が実施されますが、配属前であっても研修センターなどで健康診断を実施することが可能です。「定期健康診断」の詳細定期健康診断とは、企業側が1年以内に1回の頻度で定期的に実施する健康診断のこと。対象となるのは、正社員をはじめアルバイトやパートなどを含む1年以上継続勤務している方、または継続勤務が見込まれる方となります。さらに、1週間の所定労働時間が正社員の4分の3以上の方も対象となります。外国人の技能実習生の場合は、雇入れ時健康診断が実施されてから1年以内に再度健康診断の実施が必要とされているので注意が必要。定期健康診断は、労働者側にも受診する義務があるため、受診を拒否すると就業規則などの定めにより懲戒処分の対象になります。最低限実施が必要な検査11項目「雇入れ時健康診断」と「定期健康診断」は、共に最低限実施しなければならない検査項目があります。その労働安全衛生規則（43条）で定められた11項目は次の通りです。・既往歴及び業務歴の調査・自覚症状及び他覚症状の有無の検査・身長、体重、腹囲、視力、聴力の検査・胸部エックス線検査・血圧測定・貧血検査（血色素量及び赤血球数）・肝機能検査（GOT、GPT、γ-GTP）・血中脂質検査（ＬＤＬコレステロール，ＨＤＬコレステロール、血清トリグリセライド）・血糖検査・尿検査（尿中の糖及び蛋白の有無の検査）・心電図検査転職しても健康的に働こう母国から離れ、ただでさえ異文化ストレスを感じやすい外国人労働者にとって、健康維持はとても重要です。これまで培ってきた知識やスキルをフルに発揮するためにも、日本企業が必ず実施する健康診断をセルフメディケーションの一環と捉えて、転職後の健康的なワークスタイルを築いていきましょう。新入社員の健康管理も大切にする日本だから転職も安心働き方改革の推進により、今まで以上に従業員の労働環境が改善されつつある日本。その中で、法律により定められた健康診断の実施は、従業員の健康管理を重要視する企業を育むことにも繋がっています。また、先進国の中でも日本は医療技術が進んでおり、健康診断を受診することによって病気の早期発見や生活習慣に関する指導を受けられます。企業負担で実施される定期的な健康診断をしっかりと受診することは、病気で働けなくなるリスクを軽減すると共に「安心」を得ることができるのです。まとめ国籍問わず、従業員が健康であり続けるために企業側が実施する健康診断。海外では日本のような法律がなく、任意や自己負担で検診を行っている国もあるため、日本の保険制度は充実しているといえます。ダイバーシティにより、労働者を取り巻く環境が今後も大きく変化していく中で、ストレスによる病気や脳・心臓疾患などのリスクが増える可能性は大いにあります。日本企業での就職を考えている外国の方たちにおいても、定期的に企業が実施する日本の健康診断は、自身の健康状態を把握しながら本来の能力を発揮し続けるために役立つことでしょう。

日本在住の外国人の就職・転職を支援しているGTalentが、外国人がこれから日本で就職・転職をするときに、よくある疑問や不安をQ&A形式にまとめました。これから日本で就職・転職を考えている方々はぜひ参考にしてください！日本就職Q&A！よくある14の疑問と不安！Q1.日本にはどれくらいの外国人が働いていますか？A：2019年10月末時点で1,658,804人の外国人労働者が日本で働いています（参考「外国人雇用状況の届出状況まとめ」厚生労働省）。前年に比べると約20万人も増加しています。日本では人口減少、高齢化社会などの問題により、労働力人口が不足しており、そのため様々な業界では外国人の労働力を積極的に受け入れるようにしています。日本の雇用者数が約6,000万人（2020年3月時点、「労働調査」総務省統計局より）なので、およそ100人に2.7人は外国人労働者となります。Q2.日本で働くためには、何が必要になりますか？A：日本で働くには就労可能なビザの取得が必要になります。ビザの種類によって労働時間なども変わってきますので、事前に東京外国人雇用サービスセンターのWebsite等でビザの種類をご確認されることをお勧めします。日本で正社員として働いている外国人の場合、代表的な就労可能なビザは「技術・人文知識・国際業務」の在留資格となります。また、「永住者」、「日本人の配偶者等」、「永住者の配偶者等」、「定住者」などの在留資格者は、別途就労可能なビザを取得することなく、日本で働くことができます。Q3.日本で外国人が働く場合、どの分野の仕事が多いですか？A：2019年10月末時点では、製造業の割合が29.1%と最も多くなっております。その次にサービス業（16.1%）、小売・卸売業（12.8%）と続きます（参考「外国人雇用状況の届出状況まとめ」厚生労働省）。近年では、日本に訪れる外国人観光客が増加しているため、販売や観光などの仕事で働く外国人が増加しております。その他にも、日本はITエンジニアが不足していることもあり、ITエンジニアとして働く外国人の方々も近年大幅に増加傾向にあります。Q4.日本で働いている外国人は、どこの国の人が多いですか？A：2019年10月末時点の外国人労働者の出身国は、中国41.8万人（25.2%）、ベトナム40.1万人（24.2%）、フィリピン17.9万人（10.8%）の順番となっております。近年はベトナムをはじめとした東南アジア諸国の出身者が特に増加傾向にあります（参考「外国人雇用状況の届出状況まとめ」厚生労働省）。Q5.日本で働いている外国人は、どこの都市に多いですか？A：2019年10月末時点で外国人労働者が働いている日本国内の都市の割合は、東京が26.6％、愛知が8.0％、大阪が7.3％の順となっています（参考「外国人雇用状況の届出状況まとめ」厚生労働省）。やはり、首都である東京で働いている方が非常に多い状況です。Q6.日本で外国人が働く場合、給料は日本人と違いますか？A：日本人と同じ職種、同じポジションであれば、基本的に給料は日本人と変わりません。日本の法律においても国籍に応じて待遇差別はしてはならないことになっています。また、就労可能なビザの取得においても、一部を除き日本人と同等の給与レベルが求められるケースがほとんどになるため、必然的に同じ職種、同じポジションであれば、日本人と同じ給料レベルとなります。Q7.日本で働くには、どのくらいの日本語スキルが必要になりますか？A：職種によって求められる日本語のスキルは異なってきますが、一般的に求められるのはビジネスレベルの日本語能力です（JLPTでN2以上）。しかし、英語教師の仕事や一部のIT企業のエンジニアなどにおいては、日本語ができなくても採用されている外国人の方々はいらっしゃいます。Q8.日本企業で働く時には、「ガラスの天井」という言葉があるように、日本人でなければ主要ポジションに就くことは難しいですか？A：歴史が長く、古い考えの日本企業では、まだそのような考えは残っている傾向は強いです。しかし、グローバルに展開している企業や新興のIT企業においては、外国人が主要ポジションに就いているケースも多くなってきています。グローバルやダイバーシティを推進する日本企業全体にとって、「ガラスの天井」を外すことは課題となっています。また、外国人労働者もここ数年で増えてきているため、これから多くの企業で外国人が主要ポジションとして活躍していくと予想されます。Q9.日本企業の採用の流れはどのような流れになりますか？A：日本企業の採用の流れは他の国とも大きく変わらず、一般的に、書類選考→面接（２〜３回）→オファーとなります。また、場合によっては適正検査を行うも企業もあります。Q10.海外にいながら、日本の仕事を探すことはできますか？A：海外にいながら日本企業と面接を実施することは可能です。特に、ここ最近では選考をオンラインで完了させる日本企業も増加傾向にあります。しかし、多くの日本の企業では、スキルと経験だけではなく、「人柄」も重視しているため、最初の面接はビデオ通話で行うケースはありますが、最終的には日本に行って面接をするケースが多いです。そのため、日本で仕事を探す場合、日本に来て仕事を探す方が、仕事は見つかりやすいでしょう。Q11.日本企業に応募する場合、日本語のレジュメは絶対必要ですか？A：応募した企業によって異なります。日本語能力が求められていない求人においては、応募時には日本語のレジュメは不要になるケースは多いです。しかし、日本語能力を求める求人においては、応募時に日本語のレジュメが必要となるケースがほとんどです。Q12.日本企業の求人で「正社員」と「契約社員」というのをよく見ますが、違いは何ですか？A：主な違いは雇用期間になります。正社員は、就業期間の定めのない無期雇用の働き方となり、契約社員は、就業期間が決められている有期雇用の働き方です。正社員として採用されると、会社の状況や働き方に大きな問題がない限りは、解雇をされる心配はありません。Q13.来日してから仕事を探す場合、どのような方法がありますか？A：外国人の方が日本で仕事を探す場合、求人広告サイトが一番多く利用されます。また、ITエンジニアやマネジメントスキルを持つ専門的な人材に関しては、人材紹介会社を使うケースも多いです。これから日本で就職・転職をされる方は、以下の記事をご参考にご覧ください。ITエンジニア向けにはなりますが、他の職種でも参考になると思います。外国人ITエンジニア向け！日本の就職・転職のコツQ14.ワーキングホリデーで来日し、正社員として働く場合、就労ビザの手続きはどうなりますか？A：ワーキングホリデーから就労可能なビザに切り替える場合、在留資格の新規申請が必要になります。そのため、手続きのために一時的に母国へ帰国をする可能性が高いです（2020年5月時点）。まとめはじめて日本で就職・転職を考えている方々、上記に記載した「Q&A」を是非ご活用をしてみて下さい。もし、ITエンジニアで日本で就職・転職をお考えの方は、外国人ITエンジニア専門の人材紹介会社G Talent（ジータレント）にご登録ください。プロのコンサルタントが無料で転職活動をサポートいたします。

外国人が日本で就業するにあたっては、「どこの会社で働くか？」も重要ですが、「どこに住むのか？」ということも重要なポイントになってきます。会社に通いやすい場所にマンション・アパートを借りるのが一般的ですが、それ以外の選択肢もあり、会社によっては独自の福利厚生制度によって住宅費の負担を軽減できる場合もあります。今回は、日本に住むなら知っておきたい「住まいに関する会社の福利厚生」について解説していきましょう。住宅費の負担を軽減する日本の住宅補助制度住宅費は生活費の多くを占める出費です。初めて日本に暮らす外国人の方は家賃相場なども分からないので、様々な不安が生じることと思います。参考までに一都三県の家賃相場をご紹介しましょう。東京・神奈川・埼玉・千葉の家賃相場「平成30年住宅・土地統計調査 住宅及び世帯に関する基本集計」（令和元年９月30日 総務省統計局）によると、一都三県の「1ヶ月あたりの家賃・間代」は以下のようになっています。・東京都：81,001円・神奈川県：68,100円・埼玉県：59,358円・千葉県：57,421円東京都が8万円台と頭一つ抜けており、次に高いのが神奈川県で約68,000円、埼玉県、千葉県が5万円台後半というデータが出ています。多くの企業が東京都に集中しているので、「職住近接」を望む方はある程度の家賃出費は覚悟しておいたほうがいいでしょう。もちろん、神奈川・埼玉・千葉に住んで東京の会社に通う日本人も少なくありません。家賃を抑えたい外国人や、住まいの広さや間取りを優先したい外国人は、隣接3県で住まいを探すのも一つの手です。住宅補助制度がある会社が安心！日本の会社は、福利厚生の一環として「住宅補助制度」を設けているところが多くあります。たとえば、「月収30万円＆住宅補助なしのA社」と、「月収27万円＆住宅補助として家賃の半額が支給されるB社」では、どちらの会社が魅力的でしょうか？中長期的な目で見たら「B社を選んだほうがお得」と判断できるかもしれません。日本で会社選びをする際は、給与額だけでなく、住宅補助制度の有無やその内容も含めて判断するようにしましょう。具体的にどんな住宅補助制度があるの？日本の会社の住宅補助制度は、会社が定める条件を満たす社員に毎月一定額が支給される形が一般的ですが、この他にもいくつかのパターンがあります。一般的な住宅補助制度について解説していきましょう。01：家賃補助（住宅手当）もっとも一般的な住宅補助制度が、家賃補助（住宅手当）です。家賃補助とは、会社が社員の住宅費の一部を手当として支給する福利厚生のこと。賃貸住宅に住んでいる社員の家賃を補助したり、持ち家に住んでいる社員の住宅ローンを補助したりする目的で支給されます。家賃補助の制度がある場合でも、会社によって支給条件や支給金額は異なります。02：借り上げ社宅借り上げ社宅とは、会社が借りた住宅に社員が住む制度のこと。会社が賃貸物件を借り入れて、入居する社員から家賃の一部を徴収するのが一般的です。会社が一定の割合で家賃を負担するため、社員自身が賃貸する場合より安く住めるのがメリットだと言えます。従来は、会社が一棟丸ごと賃貸して各戸を社員に貸し出すのが一般的でしたが、最近は社員自身が条件の範囲内で物件を探して、会社名義で借りるケースも多くなっています。なお、上述した家賃補助の場合は、毎月の給料に上乗せされて支給されるため、そのぶん社員の税負担や保険料負担が増えることになります。一方で、借り上げ社宅は社員が会社に一定の家賃を支払う形になるため、税負担や保険料負担が増えることはありません。03：社員寮社員寮とは、社員の居住用として会社が所有している建物のこと。家具・家電が備え付けられている社員寮や、食事が付いている（食事が安く提供されている）社員寮もあります。入居する場合は一定額の家賃を支払いますが、近隣の物件を自分で借りるより大幅に安い金額で利用できます。しかしながら、社員寮があっても利用しない社員が増えていることや、高度経済成長期に建てられた物件が多く老朽化が進んでいることなどから、近年は社員寮が減少傾向にあります。そのため、社員寮のある会社を見つけるのは難しいかもしれません。日本の会社の住宅補助事例住宅補助制度は、あくまで会社が独自に設けている法定外福利なので、当然ながら制度そのものがない会社もあります。「平成27年度就労条件総合調査」（厚生労働省）によると、何らかの住宅手当を支給している会社は全体の45.8％というデータが出ています。産業別ではIT関連など情報通信業が56.0％と、半分以上の会社が住宅手当を支給していることが分かります。もちろん、住宅補助制度を設けている場合でも、その内容などは会社によって異なります。参考までに、住宅補助制度の支給条件や支給額などの事例を掲載しておきます。家賃補助（住宅手当）の支給条件「会社から◯km圏内に住む社員には毎月◯円を支給する」というように、会社からの「距離」を家賃補助の支給条件としているケースは多くあります。会社からの距離は、1.5km、2km、3km、5kmなど会社によって様々です。また距離ではなく、「会社の最寄り駅から◯駅圏内」というように、「駅数」を条件にしている会社もあります。その他、住んでいる場所にかかわらず「入社3年以上」というように「勤続年数」を家賃補助の支給条件としている会社もあります。家賃補助（住宅手当）の支給額「平成27年度就労条件総合調査」（厚生労働省）によると、一人あたりの住宅手当の平均支給額は17,000円というデータが出ています。産業別ではIT関連など情報通信業が25,312円と、平均を大きく上回っています。実際の支給額は15,000円、30,000円、50,000円など、会社によって幅広く設定されています。また、「家賃の5割」というような定め方をしている会社もあります。ただし、このケースでは上限額が決められていることがほとんどです。近年のIT業界は人材不足が常態化していることもあり、優秀な人材を獲得するため、家賃補助の制度を新たに導入したり、家賃補助の支給額を増額したりする会社も増えているようです。借り上げ社宅や社員寮の広さ・間取り借り上げ社宅や社員寮の広さ・間取りは会社によって異なります。通常は、入居する社員が独身なのか既婚なのかによってまったく変わってきます。独身社員が入居する借り上げ社宅・社員寮は、ワンルームや1K、1DKの間取りで、居室の広さが6畳～8畳（10㎡～14㎡）の物件が一般的です。既婚社員が家族3～4人で入居する借り上げ社宅・社員寮は、2DK～3LDKくらいの間取りが一般的です。平均は19.4㎡である。平均は23.4㎡である。まとめ初めて日本で働く外国人の方は、仕事が軌道に乗って暮らしが安定するまでは、できるだけ出費を抑えたいものです。その意味で、家賃補助（住宅手当）や借り上げ社宅・社員寮などの制度がある会社なら、家賃負担を軽減することができます。日本の会社をリサーチする際は、福利厚生のなかに住宅補助制度があるかどうかをチェックするようにしましょう。もし、家賃補助（住宅手当）の制度がある場合は、支給条件の確認を忘れずに。たとえば、「勤続3年」が条件になっていると当面は補助を受けられませんし、「世帯主であること」が条件になっていると恋人・友人とルームシェアをしている人は支給対象にならないケースがあります。不明点があれば、必ず人事担当者に確認するようにしましょう。