The study of recruitment strategies in Japanese local govenrnments

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K22074
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0106:Political science and related fields
• Research Institution: Kyushu University
• Principal Investigator: Tai Hiroto 九州大学, 法学研究院, 専門研究員 (30878236)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-09-11 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 採用 / 採用戦略 / 公務志望者 / 地方自治 / 人事行政 / 人的資源管理

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The main findings of this study are as follows:
First, it revealed that the abolition of specialized exams, the introduction of private sector exams, changes in exam schedules, and the diversification of publicity methods have contributed to the increase in competition rates for recruitment exams in Japanese local governments. Second, it pointed out that the logic behind these reforms, aimed at improving competition rates, is similar to the traditional recruitment strategies of large private companies in Japan, and it highlighted the issues and limitations of this approach. Finally, it compared candidates aspiring to work in local governments with those aiming for private companies, identifying the characteristics of candidates aspiring to work in local governments and the factors that influence their desire to seek employment in these entities.

Free Research Field

行政学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究の学術的意義は、経営学における採用研究の枠組みを援用することで、自治体の職員採用における近年の変化と実態をとらえる視点を提示し、さらに自治体志望者（公務志望者）に着目し、民間企業志望者との比較から、その特徴や差異を明らかにすることで、日本の自治体組織を対象とした採用研究の空隙を補完した点にある。そして本研究の社会的意義として、受験者数の確保を主眼とした採用制度の改革が全国的に進みつつある現状に対して、本研究はそうした戦略が孕む問題性や限界を指摘することで、警鐘を鳴らしている。