#Japan #Tokyo #Another Works #Community Jobs #Freelance Development

A Deep Dive into Another Works' Community Side Job White Paper

Another Works, a Tokyo-based company known for its innovative side job matching platform, has unveiled its comprehensive report titled "Community Side Job White Paper" for the year 2025. This pivotal document aims to shed light on how side jobs contribute to the creation of relational populations and enhance the involvement of local communities across Japan.

Research Summary

The research, carried out by the Side Job Comprehensive Research Institute under Another Works, involved a survey of individuals engaged in side jobs and various municipalities throughout the country. Here’s a brief overview of the findings:

• - Age Demographics: The majority of both side jobbers and new entrepreneurs fall within their 40s, showcasing a shared trend in age groups engaged in these activities.
• - Work Style Statistics: A staggering 37.1% of side job practitioners identify as freelancers, while 30.7% hold positions as corporate executives.
• - Local Engagement: An impressive 69.3% of side job talents have actively visited local areas, indicating a strong commitment to building relationships with localities.
• - Municipality Satisfaction: Satisfaction rates among municipalities utilizing these side job talents stand at a notable 89.1%, pointing to the successful integration of these individuals into local initiatives.

Purpose of the Research

As local communities grapple with urgent social and economic transformations, they face challenges such as branding, migration promotion, urban planning, elderly welfare, and digital transformation (DX) initiatives. To address these pressing issues, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications is promoting a program called the "Local Revitalization Corporate Talent System," which seeks to integrate private sector expertise into public administration.

In this context, Another Works is committed to channeling exceptional private sector knowledge into solving governmental challenges. By utilizing the side job cloud platform, the initiative aims to bring skilled talents into municipal operations, thereby solidifying the bridge between local authorities and private expertise.

Through this research, Another Works has clarified the status and needs surrounding the use of side job talents within municipalities. Additionally, it highlights the current state of matching between local governments and side job professionals, along with addressing potential challenges and opportunities for future utilization.

Building Local Connections

The data reveals that 69.3% of side job talents have engaged in visits to local areas. It is noteworthy that a significant portion of these professionals resides in metropolitan regions such as Tokyo (38.6%) and Kanagawa (10.5%). The expanding engagement of municipalities with talent is not merely limited to temporary support; rather, it establishes a new model for creating relational populations that fosters a continuous flow of individuals into local communities.

Moreover, the finding that 62.3% of municipalities maintain ongoing relationships with these side job contributors indicates that these roles are not just momentary assignments. Instead, they create enduring connections between regions and talents.

Trends in Work Styles

The data shows that the predominant work style among side jobs is freelancing, accounting for 37.1% of respondents, followed by corporate executives at 30.7%. However, the current “Local Revitalization Corporate Talent System” offered by the Ministry of Internal Affairs exclusively targets individuals affiliated with corporations, limiting the participation of freelancers. Notably, many specialized skills sought by municipalities come from freelance professionals. Thus, the restrictions highlight an area that, if addressed, could enhance participation rates.

Allowing freelancers into the program could quickly escalate the recruitment of highly skilled individuals essential for regional revitalization, facilitating a flexible working landscape that benefits both local governments and the professionals involved.

Age Dynamics

The average age of individuals involved in community side jobs aligns with broader trends in entrepreneurship. 40% of these individuals are in their 40s, closely mirroring data from the Japan Finance Corporation, which reported that 37.4% of new entrepreneurs are also in their 40s. This overlap suggests the possibility of a new career trajectory emerging from side job experience to independent entrepreneurship, ultimately leading to community revitalization efforts.

Voices from Side Jobs

Participants share insights into their journeys:

• - A male in his 40s expressed, "While working at a company, I initiated a side job, but I felt a desire to engage deeper, which drove my decision to become independent."

He continued, emphasizing the need for more flexible utilization of the current systems to permit greater participation from freelancers. He noted that rigidity might inhibit broader involvement, underlining the necessity for systemic reform.

Interviews with Independents

The report also features interviews with individuals who transitioned from side jobs to independence, such as Yuta Ogasawara, CEO of HAMON, and Akimichi Toyota, an independent entrepreneur, both showcasing the transformative potential of community engagements.

Conclusion

The findings from the Community Side Job White Paper reveal significant contributions of side jobs toward creating relational and exchange populations, with 69.3% actively engaging in local visits and 62.3% of municipalities maintaining ongoing interactions with talent. Expanding the utilization of these professionals could lead to increased relational populations and a broader impact in community revitalization.

Moreover, urgent reforms to the existing systems that currently restrict freelance involvement emerge as crucial for harnessing specialized expertise effectively.

Contact for Inquiries

The research results can be freely utilized, given proper attribution to Another Works. For interview requests or additional inquiries, please reach out at [email protected].

About the Side Job Cloud

The Side Job Cloud is a comprehensive matching platform connecting individuals seeking side jobs with businesses, enabling organizations to publish job listings for a monthly fee. The service allows unlimited access to registered talent, thus maximizing opportunities for side jobs without incurring placement fees. The AI agent, Nico, analyzes matching data to aid in optimizing recruitment activities. It’s a free service for talent, allowing direct applications to job offers and possible scouting by businesses.

About Another Works

Founded with the vision of maximizing opportunities for all challengers, Another Works launched its side job matching platform in September 2019. Committed to facilitating the integration of side jobs into society, the company collaborates with a diverse range of organizations, including listed companies, startups, municipalities, sports teams, and educational institutions, propelling the deployment of side job talent.

Company Name: Another Works Co., Ltd.
CEO: Naotaka Obayashi
Location: 3rd Floor, Toranomon 40MT Building, 5-13-1 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 105-0001
Website: https://anotherworks.co.jp