#Japan #Susono City #Persol Career #Susono #Cross-Border Learning

PERSOL Career Collaborates with Susono City

In a groundbreaking initiative, PERSOL Career, renowned for its job placement services including the Doda platform, has entered a collaboration with the municipal government of Susono City, Shizuoka Prefecture. This partnership aims to address the pressing issues related to workforce development in the region, fostering a supportive environment for local employees to enhance their career trajectories through cross-border learning experiences.

Partnership Background

The partnership is part of a broader effort by PERSOL Career to integrate cross-border learning into its managerial training programs. The concept is to enable employees to gain insights into the current challenges faced by municipalities in workforce training. This initiative was formalized as PERSOL was selected as a partner in Susono City's co-creation partner program, which seeks to involve businesses in local government initiatives. Following the selection, PERSOL's team engaged with city officials to create project groups focused on three critical themes: career development for municipal staff, the establishment of a structured training system, and strategies to increase the applicant pool for employment.

Goals and Objectives

Over the span of five months, the collaborative teams developed a comprehensive proposal reflecting their findings and recommendations, which they presented to the Mayor of Susono on February 6, 2026. The ultimate goal is to implement these initiatives in the fiscal year 2027 and beyond, paving the way for a better-trained workforce able to meet the demands of future public service in Susono City.

Career Development Initiatives

A significant segment of the proposal tackled career development for city employees. Survey results from 134 city employees revealed that many felt a lack of opportunities for personal and professional growth. Most workers manage essential tasks in a high-pressure environment, and a lack of proactive skill development was noted as a barrier to their career advancement. The report recommended establishing a career support system that helps employees articulate their values and beliefs and connect their job rotations to personal growth objectives.

Strategies for Talent Attraction

Given the declining young population and the increasing competition from private sector jobs, Susono City is highly concerned about attracting talented candidates for specialized roles, particularly in civil engineering and architecture. Current recruitment challenges include limited examination opportunities and opaque evaluation criteria, which deter potential applicants. The proposal included establishing fair recruitment processes, enhancing the visibility of examination difficulty, and promoting the city as an attractive employment option through various strategies, including a referral program and boosted online presence.

Training Framework Development

Amid a shrinking workforce, reports show that Susono City has seen a 3.4% reduction in staff over the last five years. Effective training frameworks that support inter-departmental cooperation and proactive problem-solving are becoming increasingly critical. The recommendations included creating exploratory training programs that allow employees to develop collaborative skills and implement knowledge gained through group studies and external training opportunities.

Leadership Perspectives

Mayor Harukaze Murata expressed optimism about the collaborative project. He underscored the importance of maximizing individual employee capabilities for the benefit of the community, emphasizing that the evolution of city workers is crucial for aligning with citizens' happiness. The successful implementation of the initiatives proposed will depend on continued support from management, which is essential for fostering a growth-oriented environment.

Conclusion

The initiative represents a significant step forward in addressing the workforce development challenges facing Susono City. By leveraging the expertise of PERSOL Career and encouraging innovative collaboration, the project aims to create a sustainable model for public sector workforce development that not only delivers immediate benefits but also secures long-term growth for the city's human resources. Moving forward, both PERSOL Career and Susono City's government officials are committed to facilitating an engaging and productive working environment that prioritizes continuous learning and skill enhancement.

For more information on PERSOL Career, you can visit their official website at PERSOL Career.