Hays Journal Issue 10: Apprenticeships – A Magic Bullet to Close the Skills Gap and End Youth Unemployment?

TOKYO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Are apprenticeships rather than university degrees the magic bullet that
will close Japan’s skills gap, end youth unemployment and produce
professionals who are equipped with the skills employers need in our
world of work? According to recruiting experts Hays, it’s a strategy
worth serious attention.

“Around the world, apprenticeships are increasingly being seen as a
solution to the problems of youth unemployment and skills shortages,”
says Christine Wright, Managing Director of Hays in Asia.

“Some people have deemed the skills shortage the result of an education
system that has failed to prepare young people for working life, while
others describe it as a symptom of employer efforts to shift the burden
of training employees onto academia rather than investing in it
themselves. Whatever the catalyst, the consensus is that apprenticeships
could hold the key to bridging the gap.”

According to Christine these industry-specific programs, which
traditionally combine classroom learning with on-the-job training and
provide career entry points for many of those who choose not to pursue
university education, are recognised around the world as a solution to
the skills crisis.

“Here in Japan, the construction & property industry is one example
where employers have successfully used apprenticeships to bring in
entry-level talent and train them in the skills they need,” she said

“While technological advances have removed many of the career
opportunities for which apprentices would qualify – just think of the
agriculture and manufacturing jobs now performed by robots and machines
not people – these same threats can also be seen as an opportunity to
train a more highly-skilled apprentice who learns more sophisticated
expertise.

“This could usher in a new form of apprenticeship, one where companies
train entry-level employees – with or without a degree – in the skills
they need to hit the ground running in their chosen profession and add
value to the organisation. Such organisations will future-proof their
skills pipeline thanks to a structured training and development program.”

Regardless, Christine says that the employers and jobseekers of today
should recognise the benefits of an apprenticeship. “For employers, they
close the skills deficit and create sustainable skills pipelines. For
jobseekers they provide a solid grounding in your chosen profession and
equip you with the skills employers need so that you can not only enter
but succeed in the increasingly technologically sophisticated world of
work,” she said.

This issue is explored further in the latest Hays
Journal, the recruiter’s bi-annual magazine on the world of HR and
recruitment. To access the Hays
Journal please visit www.hays-journal.com

Hays, the world’s leading recruiting experts in qualified, professional
and skilled people.

About Hays

Hays is the leading global specialist recruiting group. It is the expert
at recruiting qualified, professional and skilled people worldwide.

Hays Specialist Recruitment Japan KK (“Hays”) is the largest foreign
recruitment company in Japan and operates across the private sector,
providing services for permanent recruitment, contract and temporary
roles, RPO (Hays Talent Solutions) and IT Solutions. Hays has been in
Japan for more than a decade, and boasts a track record of success and
growth.

Hays is the only foreign recruitment company in Japan to operate
specialist business units composed of professionals with experience and
expertise in the sectors they cover. Hays Japan’s thirteen specialisms
span Accountancy & Finance, Banking, Finance Technology, Human
Resources, Information Technology, Insurance, Legal, Life Sciences,
Office Professionals, Property, Sales & Marketing, Supply Chain and
Manufacturing & Operations.

Hays is also the only foreign recruitment company in Japan to operate
four local offices, serving the Kanto region from 2 offices in Tokyo,
Yokohama, and Kansai from central Osaka.

Hays Japan is the local representative office for Hays plc, which is a
global company. As at 30 June 2015 Hays employed 9,023 staff operating
from 240 offices in 33 countries across 20 specialisms. For the year
ended 30 June 2015, Hays reported net fees of £764.2 million and
operating profit (pre-exceptional items) of £164.1 million. Hays placed
around 63,000 candidates into permanent jobs and around 200,000 people
into temporary assignments. 23% of Group net fees were generated in Asia
Pacific.

Hays operates in the following countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium,
Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Chile, China, the Czech Republic, Denmark,
France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan,
Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland,
Portugal, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UAE, the UK and
the USA.

Contacts

For further information please contact
Hays in Japan
Yuki
Noro, +81 (0) 3 3560 1529
Public Relations
hays-pr@hays.co.jp