Japanese firms planning sharp cutbacks in recruitment+

TOKYO, March 22 Kyodo -
Major Japanese firms are planning to sharply curtail new graduate recruitment
in the spring of 2010 from a year earlier as business confidence has
deteriorated amid the global financial crisis since last fall, according to a
recent survey by Kyodo News.
The survey, which received responses from 110 major companies, showed that 38
firms, or 35 percent, are planning to reduce annual recruitment in 2010,
compared with only 5 percent in a poll for recruitment in 2009 conducted a year
earlier.
Only five companies, or 5 percent, plan to increase recruitment in 2010,
compared with 34 percent in the previous survey.
The number of companies that are yet to decide on their recruitment plans due
to economic uncertainties doubled to 39, while 28 companies plan to maintain
hiring at year-earlier levels.
Export-oriented manufacturers and financial institutions, which have been
particularly hit by the crisis, are generally planning to reduce recruitment
next year, while electricity, railway and telecommunications companies, which
depend on domestic demand, are planning to increase or maintain recruitment
levels.
Students graduating in the spring of 2010 are already looking for jobs. Many
will receive promises of employment as early as next month.
A sharp deterioration in performance and uncertain business conditions were
cited by companies planning to reduce recruitment in 2010.
Among them, camera maker Canon Inc. plans to recruit 320 engineers due to
graduate from universities or graduate schools in 2010 compared with 765 in the
previous year as well as 40 other new graduates against 155 in 2009.
Toyota Motor Corp. intends to cut its recruitment of engineers to 380 from 751
and that of nonengineers to 100 from 184. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd.
plans to reduce its recruitment of engineers to 640 from 748 and its
nonengineering recruitment to 150 from 209.
Among financial institutions, the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ intends to
recruit 650 new graduates in 2010 against 1,500 in 2009. Mizuho Financial Group
Inc. plans to reduce its recruitment to 1,750 from 2,350 a year earlier.
==Kyodo
2009-03-22 20:46:56