Japan Convenience Stores and Foreign Workers: Updated June 28, 2024.

 

Over 80,000 foreigners working at convenience stores in Japan

Article Source:  https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20240515/p2g/00m/0bu/063000c

Ideas:

While 80.000 foreigners or 10 percent of the part-time workforce doesn't seem like much, its a telling example of what is not working in Japan and young Japanese workers.

For example, when visiting Yokohama, I only see foreign workers/part-time workers at the convenience stores and occasionally some older workers. The same at McDonalds and Mos Burger, as I only see older senior citizen type workers there.

What is the reason for the lack of Japanese young students, college age students and working at convenience stores in Japan? 

Is the minimum wage not enough for them. are the hours not suited for what they need as university students, are they, as Japanese university students afraid of the work at convenience stores in Japan?

It might be a labor shortage situation or it might be a trend, a global trend, as young workers just don't want to do some kinds of work these days.

At the same time, if and when I go to Starbucks in Yokohama, I always see young Japanese workers working at Starbucks. So what is the difference between Starbucks and convenience stores in Japan. Most likely its the part-time wage offered and the prestige of working at Starbucks instead of a convenience store or a fast food place, which again, I don't see many young Japanese workers.

And the last paragraph might be key to what there are not a lot of young Japanese workers at convenience stores as many operate 24 hours a day and young Japanese students, how go to universities, it doesn't fit their schedule.

But we can say the same for foreign workers, as most, if not all are university students or Japanese language school students.

But really is the problem here that not many young Japanese college students are working at convenience stores? Is it the wage offered and maybe convenience stores can legally pay foreign workers less but still the minimum wage in Japan might not be enough to satisfy Japanese university students.

Lets be positive and say that its mostly a labor shortage of young workers in Japan, as there just isn't enough young Japanese to do all the needed part-time work required in Japan.

But, at the same time, the situation is very similar to what is happening in South Korea, as many young South Korean students, university students, don't want to do some kinds of work, or even some kinds of work when they graduate from a university.

But I don't see many foreign workers in South Korea, yet, as the labor situation either doesn't allow foreign workers to do some things, and or some companies don't want to hire foreign workers just yet. So in that way Japan is years ahead of South Korea in using foreign labor.

The only significant group in South Korea might be Chinese Koreans who might work at restaurants but never in the more prestigious jobs which are for South Koreans only.

South Korea is just beginning to finally really open up to foreign workers and not just factory type jobs but finally other types of jobs too.

South Korea doesn't have the same kind of labor shortage that Japan has but it does related to small companies where many university graduates don't want to work there, as most prefer the large name-brand companies to work for.

As such many small companies, especially factory type companies have to hire foreign nationals to work for them, as they can't get enough South Korean workers.

Its a positive if a Chinese tourists can maybe see a Chinese working at a convenience store in Japan and maybe its good for the Chinese workers to interact with Japanese customers too.

Maybe this has become a problem in Japan, as its definitely a problem in South Korea, as many young South Korean workers will play with their smartphones while working too. 

But to be fair, I've never seen it in a Japan Starbucks or any other business places in Japan, as maybe there are rules prohibiting the use of smartphones while working.

Again, its telling that Japanese convenience stores can't fill all of their shifts, but at the same time is understandable that some young Japanese workers don't want to work the late night shifts or the 12 to 7 in the morning shifts.

Perhaps convenience stores, as Japanese society is changing, don't need to stay open 24 hours but maybe close at midnight and open again at 6 the next morning.

Of course its good that there are more foreign nationals working at Japanese convenience stores, but to be fair, does it really matter if a Japanese national or foreign national is behind the counter when you bring your food or things to pay for.

As Japanese society shrinks, due to a decreasing birthrate, there might be the need for expansion in the convenience store industry, but not the need is for improvement in quality and innovation related to better customer service.

However, that doesn't mean replacing the existing staff and going to only all automated self-check out stores.

Even in convenience stores customers want to see real people and don't want the hassle of self-check outs.

There needs to be some kind of balance between automation and continue quality customer service, which Japan is noted for.

Have a nice day and be safe!