Job Discussion Forums

[nonsmoker]

This recent article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6624049.stm shows that the number of children born in Japan is declining at an alarming rate and will ultimately affect the population. Does this concern anybody? I'm not even in Japan yet but as a prospective teacher, I can just imagine how it will affect me in finding a Job and probably significantly lower my chances of upward mobility on the careel ladder. Any thoughts?

[AndyH]

This is an issue that is much talked-about in Japan, and possible solutions people discuss include encouraging emigration, as well as offering incentives for people to have more children. Already, most cities offer a cash payout for residents who have a baby. When my wife and I had our baby, our city reimbursed us for nearly all the cost of the delivery, for which we were very appreciative. Still, more progress needs to be made, especially in regards to the workplace. Women should be allowed to take maternity leave, and of course, people should not be expected to work 12-16 hours per day, leaving little or no time for their family obligations. My wife has friends who want to have more kids, but simply have no time for it.
As for how this trend will effect you, I really don't see cause for alarm. These effects are gradual, and a noticable difference won't be felt for a couple of decades.

[markle]

[Chris21]

The declining birth rate used to disturb me, too. No matter how you look at it, Japan will need fewer and fewer teachers. However, a couple of silver linings to consider.

1) No matter how much the population declines, Japan will always require English teachers. If you can keep yourself marketable by building your resume, you'll be fine. The teachers on the bubble are the ones that get lazy and haven't improved themselves since they got off the plane. If you can occasionally get a teaching qualification, improve your language abilities, make important contacts, and/or build-up some good experience, you should have no problem finding work for as long as you want to stay here.

2) Despite the population decline, at least salaries are relatively stable. Sure, salaries at an eikaiwa haven't increased, but at least they haven't collapsed (generally hovering at 250,000 a month). I think with a booming economy in China and their need for English teachers, any downward pressure on salaries in Japan will only last for the next 10-20 years. Once China gets close to Japan in terms of salary, there'll be a tipping point and a lot of Japanese-based teachers will shift to China. When that happens, Japanese employers will try harder to retain teachers (and offering better salaries is a key selling point). Granted, this is a more long-term scenario, but if your plan is to teach in Japan for a long time, this may be an important consideration.

[6810]

I can't wait for population decline!

Less people = less demand = more supply (like land!!!!!) = cheap land!!!!

= less people on the Shinkansen etc...

[AndyH]

Sorry, Markle! I meant "immigration"!

[Glenski]

Chris wrote: