Photo/Illutration A corporate introductory session is held in 2023 in Tokyo’s Koto Ward. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

Nearly 33 percent of job seekers feel discriminated against because of their gender while more than 40 percent believe their education background unfairly eliminates them from the competition, a survey showed.

In addition, 19.5 percent of job applicants heard inappropriate remarks during their interviews, according to the survey conducted by Rengo (Japanese Trade Union Confederation).

“An unprecedented labor shortage is unfolding these days,” said Yohei Tsunemi, who calls himself a work style commentator. “Corporations ignorant of human rights will not be able to overcome this ‘recruitment ice age.’”

The nationwide online survey covered 1,000 males and females from 15 to 29 years old who took employment exams within the past three years.

Some 32.8 percent of respondents—30.1 percent of males and 35.7 percent of females--were troubled by sexism, the survey showed.

With multiple answers allowed about episodes of gender discrimination, the largest proportion, at 39.6 percent, said the work positions were prepared for either men or women, followed by 36.9 percent, who cited differing gender employment quotas.

Among the inappropriate comments uttered in interviews, a 25-year-old woman quoted a company representative as saying, “You will quit quickly because you are a woman.” A man, 29, said he was referred to as “feminine.”

Meanwhile, 40.4 percent of respondents said they were eliminated from recruitment campaigns because the companies didn’t like the schools they had graduated from.

The ratio was 33.6 percent of high school students and graduates, and 43.9 percent for university students and graduates and those who were attending or graduated from graduate schools.

As many as 10.1 percent said they were unfairly treated in connection with COVID-19. A 22-year-old man said, "I was told not to come close." A woman, 18, criticized company officials for concluding her “school life must have been terrible” amid the pandemic.

Problems were also found with the job application forms.

Although some corporations have removed the gender section from their forms out of consideration to sexual minorities, 80.5 percent of the survey respondents said they were still required to specify their gender.

Job seekers were asked about their birthplaces or locations in their family registers in 43.6 percent of the cases, even though that information should not be collected for employment activities.

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