Thursday, April 19, 2007 Demand for engineers in Japan increases
THE demand for information technology (IT) engineers in the international arena is expected to surge in the years ahead with the intense international competition in the IT sector.
According to a document from the Japan External Trade Organization (Jetro), the reason countries, including Japan, hire foreign IT engineers has transcended from the low cost to considering their technical expertise.
Japan’s IT sector has been employing IT engineers from developing countries, including the Philippines, to cut on cost, as they demand lower salaries.
“Recently, however, due to the striking lack of engineers in Japan, foreign engineers have started to be employed primarily for their technical expertise,” the document stated.
Meanwhile, Hokkaido, an island in Japan, is now hiring more foreign IT engineers to sustain the continuing growth of the island’s IT sector.
Stimulate
Hokkaido is a popular tourist destination for Japanese and overseas visitors. In recent years, its regional government has worked to stimulate the local economy by developing its IT sector.
In 2004, Hokkaido’s IT sector saw sales increase for a fourth straight year to 317.2 billion yen. The sector’s total employment also rose.
Jetro said IT placed sixth among all manufacturing industries in Japan. In employment, it ranked second to foodstuffs.
“The continued growth and development in IT will depend, however, on the industry securing more highly capable human resources.”
Hokkaido is situated roughly on the same latitudes as many major cities of the US and Europe. It accounts for more than one-fifth of Japan’s land area, making it the largest of country’s 47 administrative subdivisions. It has four distinct seasons, no rainy season and a cold but dry climate. (JBN)
