An expat’s take on Japan's efforts to retain foreign graduates

During my years living in Japan, I've become increasingly interested in how foreign students navigate the job market here, especially because I live in a rural town with an international university. I see students from all over the world arriving full of ambition, learning the language, adapting to the culture, and eventually facing the question of whether they can realistically stay in Japan after graduation.

The International University of Japan is located in my Niigata town, and I'm always happy when international students who want to stay can find the right job fit for them here.

That's part of why events like the recent job fair at Makuhari Messe in Chiba caught my attention. The event connected 110 international students with 14 local companies, including security firms and machinery manufacturers. The students didn't hesitate to ask direct questions, such as 'Do you have a five-day workweek?' 'What kind of bonuses are available?' and 'Does Japanese proficiency affect salary?'

Chiba's local government started organizing these job fairs in 2024 with the goal of helping small and mid-sized businesses that were open to hiring foreigners but didn't know how. Yet the data shows that less than 30 percent of non-Japanese students who landed jobs last year chose to stay in Chiba. The rest gravitated toward Tokyo for better pay and more opportunities.

In contrast, Saga Prefecture (often considered pretty remote and rural) has seen a surprising amount of success. Last year they experienced one of the largest increases in foreign residents in Japan, thanks in part to focused job-matching efforts and a hands-on approach to multicultural community building. Their strategy has been one that might seem a touch obvious to some of us, but they're keeping it personal. Saga's job fairs are smaller, and local officials work to match students with companies that actually fit their backgrounds and interests.

Living in a rural part of Japan myself, I find that approach really encouraging. I have seen how students here want to contribute locally, but often lack the networks or job leads that would make staying possible. Companies that recognize this and go beyond simply hiring to fill a labor gap can make a big difference.

A coordinator from JETRO (Japan External Trade Organization) who attended the Chiba fair put it pretty bluntly: foreign students are in a seller's market. If businesses want to be chosen by them, they need to offer more than a job, but future prospects as well. That could mean leadership roles, connections to overseas markets, or simply a workplace that values their skills and identity.

Did any of you fellow City-Cost members start your life in Japan via the international student route? If you're currently a student, what are you looking for in a job post-graduation?