Employment and Human Development for Foreign Civil Engineer in Japanese Construction Industries

Abstract

This thesis extracts the facts and issues on employment and human development for foreign civil engineer in Japanese construction industries and proposes the solutions to potential future problems. Compared to other industries, aging of workers and engineers in construction industries has been ongoing rapidly. And Japanese construction industries require recruitment foreign skilled workers and civil engineers to make up this shortage of workers and engineers. This thesis focuses on foreign civil engineers and studies issues from the both sides of foreign civil engineers and Japanese employers. Additionally, it proposes sustainable solution for Japanese construction industries to achieve long term employment of foreign civil engineers. Especially, Japan’s qualifications processes and multi-layered subcontractor system composed of prime contractors and lower subcontractors are highlighted as important points of foreign civil engineers. Interviews on foreign civil engineers and their Japanese managers and management personnels were taken place and collected data such as reasons of preference of Japanese contractors, motivations, career development plan from foreign civil engineers, and recruitment criteria, promotion system, training and education programs from their Japanese managers and management personnels. Based on these data and studies, this thesis analyses and concludes key solutions on long term employment and human development for foreign civil engineers in Japanese construction industries.