The Labor Ministry provides various subsidies to support companies’ hiring efforts and improve work-life balance of workers. Among its programs is the “Employment Development Subsidy for Specified Job Applicants (the Course for Securing and Developing Personnel in Growth Fields).” This article explains about this subsidy and changes in its requirements revised in October 2024.
[1] The Course for Securing and Developing Personnel in Growth Fields
This course offers support in two types. The first type is focused on personnel development and employee retention in growth fields. Companies that hired elderly or disabled workers or other workers facing difficulty finding a job through Hellowork job placement services and assign tasks in growth fields can receive 1.5 times the subsidy compared with other courses of the Employment Development Subsidy for Specified Job Applicants. The growth fields are defined as 1 and 2 below.
1. Jobs classified as “information processing/communication technology” or “other technological occupations” (limited to data scientists)
2. Jobs classified as “research and technology occupations” (limited to those related to decarbonization or carbon reduction)
The second support type is aimed to support companies that hired unexperienced workers who are facing difficulty finding employment through Hellowork job placement service, provide training by using the personnel development support subsidy and raised their wages. Such companies can also receive 1.5 times of financial support, compared with other courses of the Employment Development Subsidy for Specialized Job Applicants.
[2] Review of subsidy requirements from October 2024
The two types explained in [1] were applicable to workers who have “no working experience for a total period of one year or more.” This requirement has been changed to “no working experience for a total period of one year or more in the past five years.” Part-time work will not be included in the period of working experience.
As for the second support type, companies were required to provide workers with “training for a total of 50 hours or more.” This requirement has been changed to include training for a total of less than 50 hours, if the training corresponds to “the educational programs for the purpose of obtaining public vocational qualifications designated by the Labour Ministry.” Public vocational qualifications include those for occupational licensing, such as the second-category driver license, and qualifications required to undertake certain occupations, such as certified care worker.
If the Course for Securing and Developing Personnel in Growth Fields is applied to workers with disabilities, aged 60 or older or who are single mothers, the workers also need to satisfy requirements for the Specified Job Applicants Employment Development Subsidy’s “Course for Specified Job Applicants with Difficulty in Finding Work.” Companies considering to apply for these subsidies should check requirements in advance.
[Reference]
The Labour Ministry, “Specified job applicants employment development subsidy (the course for securing and developing personnel in growth fields) will be revised to make it more accessible.
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/newpage_43992.html
*The information is valid as of the date of this article.
