Foreign students in Japan are having a harder time securing job offers than Japanese students, reports Nikkei Asia, citing a survey by Tokyo-based job information company Disco. Their unfamiliarity with the country's hiring practices and timetables puts them at a disadvantage, the survey suggested. As of July, 52.5% of foreign college students studying in Japan scheduled to graduate next spring had received a job offer. While this marks a 4.5% year-on-year improvement and the highest figure since the current hiring schedule began in 2017, it still trails far behind the 86% for Japanese students. 

The online survey targeted fourth-year university students and second-year graduate school students from overseas. Of the 362 respondents, 52.5% had received a job offer in Japan, including from foreign-affiliated companies.  

Different job-hunt practices is another reason for the gap, according to the survey.  In many non-Japanese countries, students begin job searches after starting their fourth year of university, yet 70% of students in Japan start by June of their third year. Only a quarter, or 25.4%, of foreign students in Japan have begun the process at that time. There are also cases where foreign students are unable to decide whether to return to their home country or work in Japan after graduation and end up delaying the process.  

Despite concerns about foreign workers leaving Japan due to the weak yen and sluggish wages, there are still many who want to work in the country. According to the survey, 88.7% of respondents seek employment in Japan.