Costly Challenge of Globalizing Japan’s Labor Force

Robert Dujarric highlights a significant but daunting task facing Japan: making its workforce more global. Despite Japan’s advanced economy, its labor force remains relatively insular – few Japanese workers possess strong English skills or substantial experience abroad, and Japan attracts comparatively few skilled foreign professionals. Dujarric argues that this lack of international exposure and diversity in the workforce threatens Japan’s competitiveness. Japanese firms often struggle to expand overseas or innovate because employees are not globally minded, and communication barriers hinder integration into international projects.

The article explains that addressing this will be “costly” in multiple senses. Japan needs to invest heavily in English-language education, encourage study and work abroad (perhaps via scholarships or corporate programs), and reform corporate cultures to welcome foreign talent and new ideas. These moves entail financial costs and challenging shifts in mindset – for example, ending the tradition of hiring only new college grads or overcoming societal resistance to immigration. Dujarric emphasizes that while the effort is difficult, it is essential if Japan is to thrive in a globalized economy. He suggests that companies and the government must recognize the urgency of this workforce globalization and commit resources to it, or else Japan risks being left behind by more globally adaptable competitors.