Japan regional student employment outreach

In late July 2026, Morioka City in Iwate Prefecture hosted a local employer fair for about 500 high‑school students, introducing them to 47 regional companies across sectors such as environment, social welfare and IT. The event, organized by the Furusato Iwate Settlement Foundation, aimed to broaden students’ awareness of career options and support the prefecture’s effort to retain young talent.

A week later, Iwate University in Morioka and a job‑scouting event in Sendai brought university undergraduates and graduates into direct collaboration with local firms. Students worked on consulting projects for a regional bakery and participated in group‑discussion sessions that allowed companies to assess non‑cognitive skills and extend internship or hiring offers. Both initiatives reflect a growing trend in Japan of university‑led programmes that connect students with local businesses, extending the earlier high‑school outreach to higher‑education levels and reinforcing regional revitalisation through talent retention.