The committee also engaged in lively discussions regarding recent developments in Japan’s residence status system. As foreign worker acceptance has become a socially prominent topic—particularly in light of elections and public debate—the distinction between residence statuses such as Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services and Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) has become an important issue directly tied to practical operations.
A representative from a private company reported that, according to their internal research, interest among international students in Specified Skilled Worker Type 1 and Type 2 has been increasing. The expansion of options is, overall, a positive trend. Since the SSW Type 2 status places greater emphasis on aptitude and continued employment, it is essential to design clear pathways that enable international students to steadily advance their careers.
At the same time, an interesting observation was raised. One of the most common reasons for resignation among Specified Skilled Workers is that “the job was not a good fit.” This suggests a gap between expectations before employment and the reality of the workplace—what we might call a mismatch.
This is precisely where specialized training colleges demonstrate their value. Through professional education, students gain a clear understanding of industry realities and acquire the necessary skills and knowledge before entering employment. This process helps reduce mismatches and contributes to supplying “high-value human resources.” A committee member commented that employment pathways for students who have received specialized vocational education are likely to reduce mismatches and expressed hopes for further expansion of such initiatives.
Additionally, a representative from a Japanese language school emphasized the importance of ensuring that accurate information is conveyed before students travel to Japan. Misunderstandings can lead directly to mismatches. For this reason, proactive outreach by companies, vocational schools, and universities overseas is highly effective. There were calls to increase both the number of outreach opportunities and the countries targeted. Our participation in events such as the JASSO Fair directly responds to this expectation.
