How to find work in Japan during a working holiday (WHV)

Overview of the job market

Just arrived (or arriving soon) in Japan and looking for work? Here’s everything you need to know about how to find a job in Japan.

Very low unemployment

Japan’s unemployment rate was only 2.6% as of December 2023.

To offset the decline in its working-age population due to a low birth rate, Japan has adopted a number of measures aimed at boosting productivity and employment.

Since there aren’t enough workers in the country to fill all available positions, Japan is now looking for labour from abroad. The government is urging stay-at-home mothers to return to the workforce, developing robots to replace human labour, allowing retirees to work again, and turning to foreign workers.

Gender inequalities on the job market

Although women are encouraged to join the workforce rather than becoming housewives, their working conditions are not always favourable. They tend to be channelled into jobs seen as traditionally female (secretarial work, childcare, etc.) and discouraged from entering science-related fields. In fact, in 2018, a scandal broke when it was revealed that a prestigious medical school in Tokyo had deliberately lowered female applicants’ entrance exam scores.

Women earn on average 25% less than men and are more likely to work in non-regular positions. A shortage of daycare spaces forces one parent to give up full-time employment, and this is most often the mother, who may then have to take on precarious part-time jobs.

What about wages?

First of all, while there is a minimum wage in Japan, it depends on your region. Tokyo has the highest minimum wage (¥1,113/hour), while the lowest is found in rural areas such as Okinawa (¥896/hour). The last increase to the hourly minimum wage took place in October 2023.

Several factors influence wages: role, length of service, experience, qualifications, sector, location, type of company, and company size.

Wages are generally quoted before tax. In addition to the salary, transport costs are usually reimbursed by the employer, an important benefit in a country where commuting can be expensive.

On average, annual wages in Japan amount to ¥6,179,700. Though this figure may seem high, it doesn’t go as far as you might think in an expensive city like Tokyo.

Conclusion

Overall, Japan’s job market does offer numerous opportunities to foreign workers, which is good news for WHVers. It’s now relatively easy to find work almost anywhere. However, most jobs available to foreigners tend to be low-paying and unskilled, such as those in physical labour, hospitality, food service, or small retail shops.