#Japan #Food Industry #Itabashi #Foreign Workers #SkillDish

SkillDish Expands Its Operations in the Food Industry

Introduction

In recent years, Japan's food manufacturing sector has faced a significant labor shortage, exacerbated by a declining workforce. Addressing this challenge, SkillDish, run by SkillDish Inc. based in Itabashi, Tokyo, is taking decisive steps to enhance its platform that facilitates the hiring of skilled foreign workers. This strategy aims to provide food manufacturers across the nation with easier access to a pool of qualified foreign talent.

The company's initiative not only focuses on expanding the hiring options for food companies but also emphasizes the careful selection of candidates. With over 2,500 skilled foreign workers from five countries keen on pursuing careers in Japan's food industry, SkillDish aims to streamline the hiring process and improve the overall quality of foreign labor available to businesses.

Understanding the Need for Foreign Workers

Japanese food manufacturers are reliant on foreign talent due to a critical shortage affecting their workforce. According to governmental initiatives, by the end of fiscal year 2028, the plan anticipates the acceptance of 139,000 skilled foreign workers in the food production sector. Yet, local small-to-medium enterprises struggle with recruitment, often exacerbated by a mismatch in expectations between employers and prospective employees. Statistics reveal that only 13% of the proportion of foreign workers aspiring to work in the food industry can be reached by individual hiring companies, leading to a staggering 38% turnover rate within the first three years of employment, with 66% of these leaving within the first year.

Addressing the Recruitment Challenges

SkillDish has identified the pressing challenges that employers face when hiring foreign talent. Factors include:

• - Limited Candidates: Many companies have a scarcity of qualified applicants to choose from.
• - Insufficient Training: Foreign candidates may lack adequate food industry education, necessitating additional training post-hire.
• - High Turnover Rates: Miscommunication about employment terms often leads to misunderstandings, resulting in early departures.

Enhancing Candidate Selection at SkillDish

In line with its mission to enable all food companies facing labor shortages to recruit suitable foreign talent, SkillDish is actively cultivating a selective candidate pool. Following its service launch in October 2024, the platform has successfully registered over 2,500 aspirants from five countries, including nations like Vietnam, Indonesia, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Nepal.

SkillDish prioritizes cooperation with foreign educational institutions that focus specifically on food sector training. By assessing the standards of these organizations, the platform guarantees that only candidates with the right skill sets in food-related education are presented to employers. This strategic selection process allows businesses to conduct their recruitment efforts confidently, even without visiting the candidate’s home country.

Moreover, SkillDish introduces pre-employment consultations to clarify job expectations, working conditions, and the unique demands of the food industry, thereby reducing mismatches and fostering better retention rates.

Real-life Examples from SkillDish

1. A Manufacturer's Success: A company based in Iwate Prefecture specialized in seafood processing successfully hired four candidates through SkillDish, selected from a pool of proficient candidates with strong Japanese language skills eager to work in seafood processing.

2. A Candidate's Journey: One of the newly hired candidates, a 25-year-old from Indonesia, shares, “Having grown up in a region where seafood processing is prominent, I registered with SkillDish to work for a Japanese seafood company. My past experience as a teacher will help me grow into a leadership position in the future.” Another candidate, aged 19 and coming from a family involved in seafood sales, expresses excitement about learning the techniques of producing high-quality sashimi and sushi.

About SkillDish Inc.

Founded with a vision to innovate labor solutions for the food industry, SkillDish Inc. operates as a specialized platform focused on recruiting foreign talent in the food sector. With the endorsement of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, SkillDish is licensed as a professional employment agency, further solidifying its commitment to addressing workforce challenges in the food industry.

For more about SkillDish and to explore their services, visit their website: SkillDish. Employers can also find detailed information on their services here.