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The Importance of Internships for Science Students in Japan

In August 2023, LabBase, a company specializing in connecting science students with potential employers, conducted a survey involving 349 organizations across Japan. This investigation aimed to uncover trends and challenges in internship practices focused on recruiting science students, which are crucial for shaping their career paths. Here are the key findings from the survey:

Rise in Early Recruitment Activities

The survey indicated that many companies are beginning their recruitment campaigns as early as April, ahead of the traditional timeline. Sometimes, companies even start selecting candidates in December of their second year, indicating a significant shift towards early hiring practices. This trend is becoming more pronounced, reshaping the landscape of student recruitment.

August Internships: A Crucial Touchpoint

The survey results revealed that the most popular time for conducting internships is in August. This period is becoming a critical opportunity for companies to secure a pool of candidates for the upcoming selection processes, particularly for those who will receive job offers in December. Thus, August internships serve as a strategic foundation for recruitment.

Challenges in Securing Talent

Approximately 30% of the companies reported having successfully addressed the issue of securing a diverse recruitment pool compared to the previous year. However, there remains a sizable number of companies still grappling with this challenge. Interestingly, over half of the surveyed firms have implemented internships, surpassing the number of companies that conduct informational sessions at universities (40-50%).

While previously companies could rely on university recommendations to recruit science students, the current landscape requires proactive engagement with candidates. This shift highlights a transition in student attitudes from simply seeking placement in a company ('就社') to prioritizing meaningful employment opportunities ('就職'). Some companies have initiated guaranteed initial assignment hiring, a trend expected to grow in 2027.

The Recruitment Dilemma

Despite the increasing need for science talent, around half of the surveyed companies indicated that they are struggling to find qualified candidates. Specifically, fortifying the recruitment pool remains a challenge. This is notable as 24.4% of respondents reported experiencing significant difficulty in recruiting for the 2026 cohort, with another 23.5% admitting to facing mild struggles. Notably, the demand for science professionals continues to rise, with 20% of firms stating their hiring targets have increased.

Which Roles are Most Challenging?

Examining the roles where companies experienced the greatest difficulty, 'Production Engineering' topped the list at 26.1%, closely followed by 'Design/Development' positions at 22.6%. In terms of education, most candidates are coming from science-focused or industrial universities. Interestingly, students specializing in electrical and electronic engineering are in particularly high demand, followed by those in mechanical engineering.

Adapting to Early Recruitment Trends

As recruitment timelines continue to shift earlier, over 20% of companies have already begun their selection processes by December of the previous year. In terms of securing adequate candidate numbers, the August internship period is crucial for firms to establish a strong candidate pool for their future hiring needs.

The report notes that 57.6% of internship participants were expedited into early selection processes, with 22.6% being exempt from document screening. Particularly high-performing summer interns were even granted document exemption in 28.9% of cases.

Innovative Approaches to Internships

Among the strategies companies plan to emphasize in their recruitment efforts for 2027 graduates, 'hands-on internships' emerged as a top priority, highlighted by nearly 50% of the firms. Open company events also gained significant interest, ranking high in potential recruitment activities. This shift indicates a move away from traditional university informational sessions towards more engaging and interactive internship experiences. In contrast to the campus recruiting activities that predominantly focused on department visits years ago, the utilization of internships has gained predominance, recognizing the benefits of providing real work experiences.

Changing Motivations in Job Seeking

The data indicates a notable shift in student priorities from seeking mere employment at prestigious companies to looking for roles that align with their academic interests and personal aspirations. This reduced reliance on 'lottery-style' job assignments ('配属ガチャ') indicates a growing need for companies to offer guaranteed roles that spark genuine interest and motivation, thereby decreasing the likelihood of candidates declining offers post-acceptance.

As companies adapt to this evolving landscape, nearing half (53.3%) have already adopted guaranteed initial assignment hiring models, reflecting an inclination to continue this trend in future recruitment cycles.

About LabBase

LabBase Inc. is dedicated to creating a research empowerment platform aimed at connecting motivated science students with potential employers. Alongside their primary service, LabBase Recruiting, they also manage LabBase Career Transition and LabBase Research Lab Search.