Category: Employment

by Michael Gillan Peckitt August 26, 2026 Number of comments0
Disability Discrimination Employment Japan Podcast

76% Don’t Disclose Disabilities or Diagnoses During Job Hunting, Nippon Foundation Survey Finds [Podcast Episode]

A Nippon Foundation survey found on August 23rd that 76.5% of people diagnosed with developmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), or with mental illnesses, said they had never disclosed their diagnosis during their job search. The main reason was concern that doing so would put them at a disadvantage, such as being rejected for a job. The survey targeted people who did not have a disability certificate and had sought employment through standard recruitment channels.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt August 25, 2026 Number of comments0
Disability Employment Japan Welfare

Miyagi steps up disability employment support after Sendai welfare provider suspension

The Miyagi Labour Bureau, Sendai city government and the Miyagi branch of the Japan Organization for Employment of the Elderly, Persons with Disabilities and Job Seekers will jointly call on employers and economic organizations to strengthen efforts to promote and maintain employment of people with disabilities, prefectural officials said Monday. The initiative comes amid scrutiny of the provision of disability welfare services in Sendai.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt August 24, 2026 1
Autism Barrier Free Disability Employment Japan

76% Don’t Disclose Disabilities or Diagnoses During Job Hunting, Nippon Foundation Survey Finds

A Nippon Foundation survey found on the 23rd that 76.5% of people diagnosed with developmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), or with mental illnesses, said they had never disclosed their diagnosis during their job search. The main reason was concern that doing so would put them at a disadvantage, such as being rejected for a job. The survey targeted people who did not have a disability certificate and had sought employment through standard recruitment channels.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt July 21, 2026 Number of comments0
Disability Employment Japan

Efforts Grow in Japan to Help Disabled Thrive at Work; Smaller Businesses Struggle Due to Lack of Funds, Human Resources

The statutory employment rate for people with disabilities was raised to 2.7% from July, up from 2.5%.Fifty years have passed since such a mandatory rate was first set in 1976, and initiatives have now gone beyond merely meeting that figure to also exploring ways to maximize disabled people’s abilities and job satisfaction. Increasing the employment rate among small and medium-sized enterprises is a challenge as well. In companies with fewer than 100 employees, the employment rate for people with disabilities stands at only 1.94%, which is lower than the overall average.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt July 11, 2026 Number of comments0
Disability Employment Japan Welfare

Kanazawa Employment Support Agency for People with Disabilities Files for Bankruptcy after Fraudulently Receiving 30.41 Million Yen

Last December, the company had its designation revoked by Kanazawa City for fraudulently receiving 30.41 million yen in benefit payments intended for employment support for people with disabilities. The city had demanded a payment of 42.58 million yen, which included additional penalties, but it was not paid by the January 5th deadline of this year and the city is currently considering filing criminal charges.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt July 3, 2026 Number of comments0
Disability Employment Japan Podcast Welfare

Japan’s Health Ministry Produces Manual to Strengthen Guidance and Oversight of Disability Welfare Following Fraud Cases [Podcast Episode]

The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has compiled manuals on group guidance, operational inspections, and audits conducted by prefectural governments and other authorities for disability welfare service providers, and distributed them to local governments on the 8th. Until now, the ministry had only outlined its approach through training sessions. The new manuals are intended to strengthen guidance and audits, primarily in response to a growing number of disciplinary cases involving fraudulent practices as the number of facilities operated by for-profit corporations continues to rise.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt July 2, 2026 Number of comments0
Disability Employment Japan Welfare

Less than half of Japan’s firms meet disability employment quota as statutory rate rises to 2.7%

The statutory employment quota (hōtei koyōritsu) requiring companies to employ a minimum proportion of people with disabilities will be raised from 2.5% to 2.7% on July 1. The aim is to further promote employment of people with disabilities. However, fewer than half of companies currently meet even the existing quota, highlighting ongoing challenges in creating suitable workplace environments.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt June 30, 2026 1
Disability Employment Japan Welfare

Japan expands disability employment support amid impartiality concerns

A new welfare service designed to help disabled people find jobs suited to their abilities is spreading across Japan, but concerns remain that providers may steer users toward affiliated workplaces rather than make impartial recommendations. While supporters say the program can help people find more suitable career paths, critics warn that operators involved in assessing users may have a financial incentive to direct them to their own facilities.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt June 10, 2026 Number of comments0
Disability Employment Japan Podcast Welfare

8 Billion Yen in Fraudulent Disability Welfare Claims; 936 Administrative Sanctions Issued from FY2020–2024 [Podcast Episode]

Fraudulent claims for public disability welfare payments by operators providing services to support the daily lives and employment of people with disabilities totalled approximately ¥8 billion nationwide over the five years from fiscal 2020 to fiscal 2024, it was revealed on the 6th. The figure was obtained by Kyodo News through an information disclosure request for data held by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. During the same five-year period, 936 cases of administrative sanctions were imposed in connection with fraudulent claims and related misconduct.