#Japan #Hyogo #Spot Work #Awaji Island #Matchbox Tech

Hyogo Prefecture's Seminar on New Work Styles

In a bid to tackle the challenges of workforce shortages in certain regions, Hyogo Prefecture will host a seminar titled 'Promoting New Work Styles from Awaji Island' on August 18, 31, and September 1, 2026. This initiative aims to introduce the 'Awaji Island Matchbox' platform, which aims to connect local businesses with job seekers looking to work flexibly, even for just a few hours a day.

Seminar Highlights

The seminar will present insights and outcomes derived from the two-year operation of the 'Awaji Island Matchbox'. With over 6,600 employment matches successfully made by June 2026, this event aims to share experiences that can help improve regional employment and connect diverse workers with local businesses. Anyone interested in employment support and flexible working conditions is welcome to attend.

Event Schedule:

• - Awaji Region: August 18, 2026

- Time: 14:00 - 15:30
- Location: Hyogo Prefecture Sumoto General Agency, 3F Conference Room

• - Tajima Region: August 31, 2026

- Time: 13:30 - 15:00
- Location: Hyogo Prefecture Toyooka General Agency, 401 Conference Room

• - Tanba Region: September 1, 2026

- Time: 13:30 - 15:00
- Location: Tanba Forest Park, Seminar Room

The Awaji event will be hybrid, allowing attendance both in-person and online, while the other two events will be held face-to-face.

Context of the Seminar

The Awaji region has faced significant challenges in securing labor due to declining population and an aging workforce. The effective job offers have been challenging to match, particularly in sectors like hospitality that require staff during peak times. Conversely, there are many individuals wishing to work flexibly, such as stay-at-home parents or retirees looking for limited employment opportunities.

To bridge this gap, the Awaji Island Matchbox platform aims to help local businesses find the right personnel while also catering to job seekers' needs. Launched by Hyogo's Awaji Regional Bureau in July 2024, the platform has seen remarkable adoption, boasting over 2,000 registered job seekers and more than 230 local businesses by March 2026.

Why Attend?

Participants will gain insights on:

• - Trends and characteristics in job matching over the past two years
• - Successful experiences in fields traditionally perceived as challenging for short-term employment, such as healthcare
• - Mechanisms for maintaining relationships with job seekers for repeat or long-term jobs.

This seminar is particularly beneficial for businesses facing staffing challenges during peak periods, officials interested in local employment support, and regional chamber representatives supporting workforce solutions.

About Matchbox Technologies

Matchbox Technologies is committed to creating a society where everyone can work flexibly by leveraging digital technology. With a mission to aid local governments in resolving labor issues, the firm develops customized HR products like 'Matchbox', a platform allowing businesses to post job openings for short-term work, enabling labor flexibility and efficiency within local industries.

For more details and to register for the seminar, please visit the official registration link: Registration Form or contact Matchbox Technologies at 050-1780-3754 during operational hours of 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.