The performance of the economy and the popularity of civil service positions have historically been correlated in Japan, but the recent decline in the number of candidates for local government employment exams does not appear to reflect economic conditions alone.
With the sustainability of rural areas at stake due to the declining population and concentration of people and businesses in Tokyo, the shortage of civil servants to support the lives of local residents is raising serious concerns.
Private sector companies, on the other hand, are breaking new ground with unprecedented hiring practices in desperate attempts to acquire top-quality staff and prevent new recruits from quitting quickly amid labor shortages and changes in student attitudes.
