Hello, everyone.
This is Enta.
How do you see the way we work over the next 10 years?
What does the future hold for the construction industry?
I'll be thinking about that.
Workplaces Where Japanese People Are Disappearing
Looking ahead, to be honest, we’ll likely see more construction sites where there are no Japanese workers.
I think there are tons of people on the front lines who feel that way.
Although there are various programs—such as the Technical Intern Training Program, the Specified Skilled Worker Program, and the EPA (Economic Partnership Agreement)—
It’s almost exclusively foreigners who are actually picking up shovels and working up a sweat.
"The director is Japanese. But everyone else is foreign."
Such situations are becoming the norm.
And it's picking up speed right now!
An Era in Which Foreigners "Use" Japanese People
Until now, Japanese people have been in the position of teaching foreigners, but there is a very real possibility that this will reverse in the future.
For example, it will no longer be unusual to see foreign workers with technical skills and experience mentoring young Japanese employees who are still getting used to the workplace.
"A Japanese director who isn't very good at expressing himself in Japanese" versus "a foreign leader who gives precise instructions in his native language."
It’s already clear who holds the real power on the ground.
The Number of Foreign Leaders Is Increasing
The Vietnamese Team Leader
Nepalese Safety Manager
Filipino drilling operators and spray gun operators
This "foreign leadership" will certainly provide strong support on the front lines.
As long as young Japanese people aren't entering the workforce, it's only natural that skilled foreign workers will step into leadership roles.
Possible Future Changes
Manual in Native Language Required
Safety instructions and construction procedures on-site cannot be conveyed in Japanese alone.
Manuals in Vietnamese, Nepali, Tagalog, and Indonesian are required.
Increasing Cultural Friction
Differences in lifestyle, religion, and vacation time have become apparent.
Could the culture of drinking parties be on the decline, with consideration for those observing Ramadan and separate meal arrangements becoming the norm!?
Reversal of the Wage Structure
Highly capable foreigners may end up earning higher salaries than Japanese people (this is already happening).
It is not uncommon to find “Japanese people who are managed by foreigners,” rather than “Japanese people who manage foreigners.”
The Isolation of Japanese Directors
The director is the only Japanese person; everyone else is foreign.
Will there even be days when the common language on site isn't Japanese!? (It's already happening, lol)
The Collapse of the General Contractor Culture
The image of “construction sites run entirely by Japanese workers” has faded, and internationally diverse teams are now the norm. (This is already the case, lol.)
In the future, the construction industry will undoubtedly shift toward becoming an "industry where Japanese people are in the minority."
Rather than employing foreigners, we work alongside them, and in some cases, Japanese people are employed by foreigners.
We are entering an era in which we cannot survive unless we plan with that future in mind.
Japanese people who feel complacent are in great danger.
I know this might sound a little harsh, but even among Japanese people, there are those who are incredibly good at their jobs, those who are average, and those who aren't very good.
If you're capable, please master this skill and use it to mentor both foreign and Japanese people as a leader.
Ordinary people should work closely with their foreign colleagues, respecting one another as they go about their work.
Those who can't get the job done should accept their foreign supervisors and follow their instructions carefully!
We'll likely see a rapid shift over the next 10 years.
Where would you place yourself?
If you keep that firmly in mind while you work, things will definitely change for the better, don't you think?
See you later.
