The End of Japanese-Style Employment?

D. H. Whittaker
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D. H. Whittaker: Japan Research Centre Faculty of Oriental Studies University of Cambridge CAMBRIDGE CB3 9DA

Work, Employment & Society, 1990, vol. 4, issue 3, 321-347

Abstract: `Japanese-style' employment is confronting serious challenges in the form of rapidly ageing workforces, changing youth attitudes, rising numbers of female employees, new technology, `internationalization' and `servicization'. Japanese companies are responding to these challenges with notable innovations in personnel management. These include: `multitrack employment' with specialist tracks; `group employment' whereby workers are transferred beyond individual enterprises; increased scouting and `new job-based wages'. The innovations are significant, but do they constitute the end of Japanese-style employment? Seen in a historical perspective, Japanese-style employment has evolved; in fact change may be considered an inherent feature (as are predictions of its demise). This paper concludes that we are witnessing significant evolution but not yet outright abandonment.

Date: 1990
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