White-collar professions in Japan are experiencing a significant decline in attractiveness as more individuals opt for work in the construction sector.
Forget about the prestigious university degree and the promised high wages and job security. It's time to ditch the ordinary white-collar jobs, as they barely pay well and the once-common practice of lifetime employment is a thing of the past. Even big companies have fewer seishain (regular employees) than before, with many contract workers and outsourced labor taking their place.
So, what's the alternative? Shukan Gendai suggests considering a high-paying career in the construction trades or other blue-collar professions. According to YouTuber Shingo Inoue, those who excel in these jobs can expect good remuneration and better working conditions than in the past. Though the tasks may be challenging and sometimes deemed "3K" (dirty, difficult, and dangerous), the work environment has significantly improved, and workers are now entitled to certain protections and allotments.
Inoue himself transitioned from a white-collar job to a construction gig and eventually became an independent worker in the cleaning and protection sector, earning increasing wages year after year. He suggests that after three to five years of hard work and smart decision-making, an annual income of 10 million yen or more could be achievable.
Even starting salaries in the construction trade are said to be comparable to average white-collar positions. Moreover, as skills and expertise improve, so does remuneration. If you're willing to work hard and play your cards right, you could generate over 50 million yen in business turnover per year, with about half of it as take-home pay.
So, what kinds of jobs could offer these benefits? Shukan Gendai lists nine possibilities, including construction worker, reinforced concrete worker, carpenter, architectural sheet metal worker, plasterer, seal worker, formwork worker, marking worker, and demolition worker. A middle-aged man who specializes in interior construction told the magazine he regularly achieves 50 million yen in annual business turnover, with around half as his personal income.
Takahiro Suzuki, a management strategy consultant, argues that wage levels have stagnated in most business sectors over the past 15 years, and risks of job loss are high, particularly for subcontractors. However, in the construction industry, the current worker shortage has left subcontractors with the upper hand, allowing them to turn down job proposals from prime contractors and demand higher fees.
With improved working conditions and ample rewards for effort and expertise, blue-collar jobs may be the career of the future, according to the article. To get a more precise idea of salaries, it's best to consult specific job listings or industry reports in Japan.
- The construction trade, along with other blue-collar professions, can offer high pay and better working conditions compared to the past, as suggested by YouTuber Shingo Inoue.
- With determined effort and smart decisions, one could potentially earn an annual income of over 10 million yen in the construction industry, according to Inoue's personal experience.
- Even starting salaries in the construction trade are comparable to average white-collar positions, and remuneration increases with the improvement of skills and expertise.
- If one works hard and navigates the industry wisely, it's possible to generate over 50 million yen in business turnover per year, with around half of it as take-home pay, as stated in the Shukan Gendai article.
- Due to a worker shortage in the construction industry, subcontractors have the power to negotiate higher fees and turn down job proposals from prime contractors, according to management strategy consultant Takahiro Suzuki.
