The 1999 Computing Japan IT salary survey
by Thomas Caldwell

See the survey results!

Computing Japan's Tom Caldwell hit the streets recently to ferret out the latest gen on who's doing what, and how much their making. Covering occupations from network engineer to Web designer, our intrepid correspondent compiled a detailed list of what your services are worth on Japan's job market. Surprisingly, even the bodyguards are making good money. How do you compare?

Even in the relatively short period of time CJ has been around there have been many new changes to Japan's employment landscape. When I began writing for this magazine back in 1994, full-time HTML programmers did not exist, and mention of the proper noun Webmaster would conger up images out of a "B" horror flick. But times are always a'changin -- especially when it comes to the Japanese job market these days.

Note that this survey was not compiled by a roomful of statisticians polling thousands of people and processing the data with state of the art computers. It was done by a single individual journalist over a period of about two months. It is designed to be a guide, and nothing more. A very special thanks to all who participated, who shall remain, forever, anonymous.

Time of transition
The current employment situation can be summed up in one word: confused. Lots of people are worried about the future, even those who on the surface have good, secure jobs. Employees have long memories. Many remember the craziness of the Bubble Era, when bosses were spending more time in hostess bars than they were minding the shop. If Japanese corporate management leads the world in any single skill set, it is hiding financial problems until it is too late to do anything about them, and then apologizing profusely in front of the press for all the people who are out on the street. Nobody with any reasonable level of intelligence believes in lifetime employment anymore, and being told by the boss that it is "regrettable" that one's job has disappeared due to a bad golf course deal doesn't make the fact any easier.

This uncertainly has resulted in two major attitude changes. First, there is a growing intolerance of employers who don't have their act together. If an employee sees trouble, he or she will jump ship at the first opportunity they get. In times of survival, loyalty to the company comes a distant third to loyalty to one's self and one's family. Most foreign employees have always had this attitude; now everybody does. The other change is in the area of learning new tricks. Adult education is becoming a growth industry in Japan. Colleges and universities that offer courses and degree programs to people who work regular jobs are mobbed. Correspondence courses are more popular than ever. Many people are using their vacation time to attend two week programs conducted at name universities. It is a good sign. (See the Distance Learning features in the August CJ -- Ed.)

Opportunities, avoidances
Overall, the best places to work in Japan at the moment seem to be foreign-based companies, especially American ones. The US economy is booming and has been doing well for quite some time, so they have plenty of money and patience (which costs money) to do business here. Foreign companies have also become more sophisticated in the past several years, and more picky about whom they hire. They also expect a great deal from their staff. But in terms of salary, working conditions and the chance for advancement, they can't be beat.

Foreign-based companies are also more open to hiring foreign residents of Japan. They also (surprise!) treat them a lot better. This especially goes for the younger just-out-of-college crowd who can still be trained.

The worst place to work in Japan is, and has always been, the smaller company run in a dictatorial manner by a few or by a single individual. The shortcomings of these firms has become glaringly obvious over the last couple of years. Too many decision makers can destroy a company with indecision, but one man can wreck things suddenly and with almost no warning.

Rendering unto Caesar
The biggest problem facing employees in the last year seems to be the attitude of the Japanese tax authorities. After years or relatively easy money from industry and the super rich, the government is now getting serious about collecting taxes from everywhere they can find them, especially from foreigners whom they perceive to be making a lot of money. The Bubble Economy affected the local and national government just as badly. Today the coffers are empty.

None of the people I contacted for this survey said they have been harassed or abused by the local tax collector, but the level of attention they were getting was notable and, to many, quite uncomfortable. This is especially the case with small business owners.

In a related area, there is also a great deal of concern over Japan's aging population and the effect it will have on the tax rate. The medical and nursing care Japan's legions of old people will require over the coming years is going to be very, very expensive, and the money to pay for it is going to have to come from someplace.

No matter how you look at it, Japanese taxes are going to be a major factor in how both local and foreign companies operate in this country over the coming few years. If the cost of doing business is too high, businesses will move on to other markets. In the end, it all comes down to money.

See the survey results!

Thomas Caldwell is a Tokyo-based freelance writer. Contact him at caldwell@gol.com.

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