第２３６回 Workshop報告（１月２１日）/参加者１５名

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《今回のworkshop　》
○workshop参加人数：15名
○【前半】：What will happen in the future.
○【後半】：Renaming “mid-career hiring” to “recruitment of experienced workers”
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≪FIRST HALF≫

＜Agenda＞

What will happen in the future.

The year 2023 has begun. You might be excited about this new year, or already exhausted. Personally, the year 2023 is an important year because exactly thirty years ago I was born. In the discussion, I want to ask you what will happen in thirty years (2053).

For your reference, I will give you what happened over the past thirty years.

In 2013,

・The economic policy Abenomics was introduced in Japan.

・The NHK drama Ama-Chan was a big hit.

・Sony released the PlayStation 4 gaming system while Microsoft releases the Xbox One.

In 2003,

・The Iraq War began.

・ The Spirited Away won an Oscar film award. 

・An electric railway ICOCA card started to be used.

In 1993,

・The Nozomi super express train was released.

・Windows 3.1 released in Japan.

・ The soccer J-league launched.

Do you remember any of those events?

Let’s talk about the past and future.

<Questions>

Q1. Can you remember what you did in 2013 ten years ago? Do you feel any big change personally and publicly? Why or why not?

Q2. Can you remember what you did in 2003 twenty years ago? Do you feel any big change personally and publicly? Please explain the reasons.

Q3. What would the world be like in 2053? What would be the most exciting change?

<References>

What Happened in 2013 inc. Pop Culture, Prices and Major News Events https://www.thepeoplehistory.com/2013.html

What Happened in 2003 inc. Pop Culture, Prices and Major News Events https://www.thepeoplehistory.com/2003.html

What Happened in 1993 inc. Pop Culture, Prices and Events
https://www.thepeoplehistory.com/1993.html

≪LATTER HALF≫

＜Agenda＞

Renaming “mid-career hiring” to “recruitment of experienced workers”

<The reason for choosing this theme>

   I chose the theme above because I was curious about others’ reactions toward the rename. I am working at an HR consulting firm and almost all of my co-workers have negative opinions about the rename. Like my workmates, I do not think the rename is meaningful, but I would like to broaden my perspectives through discussions with those with different ideas.

<What I would like you to discuss about>

   First, I would like participants to share their impressions toward the two expressions “mid-career hiring” and”recruitment of experienced workers.” Second, I expect them to think about whether it is meaningful to change the name when labor market reform is needed. Lastly, I want them to discuss what the government should really do to help job applicants including new graduates.

In November 2022, the Japan Business Federation (Keidanren) announced that since the word “mid-career” comes with a certain negative connotation and there is now an increasing number of companies hiring throughout the year, the new term “recruitment of experienced workers” is more appropriate (cf. https://www.keidanren.or.jp/en/speech/kaiken/2022/1107.html

Chairman Tokura’s Statements and Comments at His Press Conference on November 7, 2022). Some people agree with the comment above because the adjective “experienced” could convey positive nuances toward job seekers who have quitted their previous jobs. According to them, those job seekers might have been seen as incapable of continuing their jobs by using the word “mid-career.”

   However, others are criticizing the federation, claiming that what is important is to reform the overly competitive job market in Japan, not just rephrasing the expression. Another criticism is that the younger generation might give up applying for new positions due to a lack of experience. It is pointed out that young job seekers would misunderstand that without enough experience they are not allowed to apply for new jobs.

   Now the discussion over the rename brings another controversy, unexpected by the federation — the abolishment of positions special for new graduates. Proponents of the abolishment see the rename itself as meaningless and demand that instead of renaming all job seekers, regardless of new graduates or not, should be equally offered job opportunities.  They believe that the long-lasting custom of Japanese recruiting system, which requires students to apply for jobs almost at the same time, is completely obsolete. Now that career change is getting more common in Japan and that many students have various background recently, positions only for new graduates may be getting less significant.

   Getting back to the point, there are both arguments for and against the renaming “mid-career hiring” and “recruitment of experienced workers.” Today, I would like you to discuss this theme by answering the following three questions:

<Questions>

1. What impressions do you have about these two words “mid-career hiring” and “recruitment of experienced workers?”

2. Do you think the rename discussed above is meaningful? Why or why not?

3. What should the Japanese government do to accelerate the labor market (including new graduates)?

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