Work is tough and pay is low... Even low-ranking Japanese public officials are leaving

The declining popularity of civil servants is the same in both Korea and Japan.

Promotional photo of national public officials featured on the Japanese Cabinet Secretariat website

On the 5th, Japan's Yomiuri Shimbun reported that "the number of civil servants with less than 10 years of experience leaving their jobs reached a record high." According to the report, among national civil servants known as 'career bureaucrats,' those who resigned within 10 years of employment numbered 177 in 2022, the highest since the system was implemented in 2013. Career bureaucrats refer to national civil servants or bureaucrats hired by the Central Government Agency who have passed comprehensive national civil service exams, advanced level exams, or Type I exams in Japan and are considered executive candidates.

According to the Personnel Authority, the number of resignations within 10 years of employment was under 100 until 2017, but exceeded 100 for the first time in 2018 with 116 people. Although the number temporarily decreased in 2020 due to the impact of COVID-19, it set new records each year with 168 in 2021 and 177 in 2022. In a survey conducted by the personnel departments of various ministries targeting national civil servants in 2022, the main reasons for leaving were reported as "wanting to do more attractive work where I can grow," "low income," and "entrenchment of long working hours," according to Yomiuri.

Yomiuri stated, "Many people have moved to private companies citing long working hours as a reason," and added, "The Personnel Authority plans to promote reforms in work styles to secure talent."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.