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On April 16, 2019, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attended the second meeting of the Council on Mid-Career Recruitment and the Recruitment of Experienced Professionals at the Prime Minister’s Office.
 
Based on the discussion, the Prime Minister said,
 
“Today, we convened the second meeting of the Council on Mid-Career Recruitment and the Recruitment, having the top management of small and medium-sized enterprises as well as start-ups.  
 
To be honest, I really wanted you take more time for your briefing. Within the time limit of one minute for each, you all did your presentation very efficiently, which we also learned a lot. In these six years, which we have been in power, Japan’s working-age population has fallen by about 5 million people; nevertheless, we have succeeded in achieving nominal GDP growth of more than 11% over these six years. While the decline in the working-age population is an extremely significant negative factor for growth, one of the most significant reasons behind this growth lies in the fact that approximately 2.8 million women newly entered the workforce. Due to this, the M-shaped curve is significantly resolved. At the same time, that might be also the consequence of the fact that the elderly could now find a new job or continue their job, with the gradual development of an environment that allows motivated people above the age of 60 or 65 to continue working. Of course, that was made possible by a series of efforts made by the pioneering leaders like you and, therefore, we achieved such growth. Furthermore, it is not limited to achieving growth but also creating a path such that we can choose more fulfilling life at various stages and enrich our life.
 
Going forward, we need to continue our efforts to create a society in which people can flexibly choose how they work and where they work and receive chances again and again until they succeed. To that end, it is vital to expand mid-career recruitment and the recruitment of experienced professionals. At the previous meeting focusing on large corporations, we found that those recruitments make up no more than 40% of the entire recruitment in those companies. On the contrary, those recruitments make up more than 70% of entire recruitments in small and medium-size enterprises and startups.
 
Today, you proposed how to expand such recruitment further among small and medium size enterprises and startups. We also received several requests from you. You also show us some of the examples, such as the abolishment of mandatory retirement to hire motivated seniors as regular employees and the introduction of a flexible working style through allowing employees to bring their children and tele-working. In particular, a number of members here mentioned that large companies need to further promote the removal of restrictions on employees taking on side jobs so as to transfer skills and knowhow from large companies and major cities as well as alleviate labor shortages in small and medium size enterprises. Regarding this point, the Government would also like to promote side jobs in light of the 100-year life society and discuss this matter at the next meeting of the Council on Investments for the Future, aiming at outlining the direction of our considerations with the decision regarding our Growth Strategy this summer. I would like to add that our approach on side jobs does not aim at enforcing them; taking side jobs is solely on individuals’ willingness and choice. It truly aims at allowing those who want to purse more new opportunities go through that path.
I would like to ask Minister Nemoto and Minister Seko, who are the joint secretary-general of this Council, to commence a detailed study.
 
In addition, today, we had associations of small and medium-size enterprises, universities and supporting organizations such as local banks in attendance. Based on the discussion today, we would like to promote collaboration with all of you towards the expansion of mid-career recruitment and the recruitment of experienced professionals and ask your cooperation going forward. Thank you very much.”