Human Resources

June 2004

The Ministry of Labor will outsource to nonprofit organizations the operation of its job search support services for the unemployed youth. Although the ministry currently offers such services mostly at public employment offices, they are not much help unless young people visit these facilities on their own. Many people often flock to job hunt seminars sponsored by NPOs. The Ministry views that it can serve more jobless youth by providing employment information and job training services through NPOs that work closely with teenagers. The ministry has already outsourced to NPOs career counseling and other services at public facilities. It will fully expand the scope of outsourcing under the new plan. The government aims to help young people find jobs through the plan. The average unemployment rate among those between ages 15 and 24 was 10% in fiscal 2003. (June12, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun)