#Japan #Tokyo #Dive Inc. #Working Holiday #Tourism Sector

Increase in Working Holiday Foreign Workforce

Dive Inc., headquartered in Shinjuku, Tokyo, has announced a significant milestone in the tourism workforce sector. There has been a 35% increase in foreign workers utilizing the working holiday visa to engage in jobs across Japan’s experience-rich tourist facilities, when compared to the same month last year. This growth comes amid a recovery in inbound tourism and a pronounced shortage of domestic labor, highlighting expanding employment opportunities for foreign talent.

Regional Trends in Employment Growth

Remarkably, Gunma Prefecture has seen an astonishing rise in the demand for workers, particularly in major tourist spots like Kusatsu Onsen, with a tenfold increase year-on-year. Similarly, Nagano Prefecture, famous for its ski resorts and onsens, has reported a significant growth of around 2.2 times compared to the previous year. In Tochigi Prefecture, leveraging its well-known attractions such as Nikko, the increase stands at approximately 1.7 times, indicating a consistent expansion of foreign worker acceptance in the Greater Tokyo Area.

Even in Hokkaido, a region noted for its tourist facilities, the trend remains positive, showing stable expansion above last year's numbers in response to continuing demand for accommodation and services from inbound tourists. Additionally, in Hiroshima Prefecture, where there were no workers accepted the previous year, multiple foreign hires have emerged this year, indicating a hopeful sign of expanding labor opportunities in a new region.

Future Outlook

The trend of employing foreign workers through the working holiday visa is clearly extending beyond urban centers to encompass rural tourist destinations. Areas like Gunma, Nagano, and Tochigi, along with regions like Hokkaido and Hiroshima, are witnessing an upsurge in new foreign talent recruitment, driven by the recovery in tourist demand. This trend not only aids in addressing labor shortages but also enables effective and strategic utilization of human resources tailored to regional characteristics.

Dive Inc. plans to continue broadening the array of employment options in the tourism sector, aiming to connect local communities with available talent.

Understanding the Working Holiday System

The Working Holiday System allows young individuals aged between 18 and 30 (with variations depending on the country) to stay in Japan for up to one year. While travel remains the primary intention for their stay, participants may work in designated sectors to supplement their living expenses. Japan currently has agreements with more than twenty countries, including Australia and Canada, aiming to foster international cultural understanding and create opportunities for youth to gain global experiences.

About Dive Inc.

• - Company Name: Dive Inc.
• - Founded: March 2002
• - CEO: Kiyoshi Shoji
• - Headquarters: 10F Shinjuku Seven Building, 2-8-1 Shinjuku, Tokyo, 160-0022
• - Website: Dive Website

Dive Inc. is a venture company addressing critical issues in the tourism industry, regarded as the economic growth engine of Japan. Their core business focuses on a specialized staffing service designed for tourist facilities aimed at alleviating ongoing labor shortages, successfully creating 9,320 tourism workers annually. Dive boasts a partnership record with over 4,600 tourist facilities spanning all 47 prefectures and includes both Japanese and foreign personnel.

In addition, Dive is actively involved in regional revitalization projects in six underpopulated regions, creating a D2C tourism business model to generate revenue and earn foreign currency while promoting sustainable development in collaboration with local businesses. They also manage a web platform, GLAMPICKS, to help boost traffic for glamping sites, advancing their IT-driven initiatives in the hospitality space.