Japanese Female Self-Initiated Expatriates As Labour Market Makers

This paper clarifies the mechanism of Japanese female self-initiated expatriates (SIEs)’ particiaption in global labour market. SIEs are those who cross the borders with their volition and expense as they seek for the job opportunity in foreign lands without any assignment delegated by MNC corporations in home lands. Based on the analysis from in-depth interviews with Japanese female SIEs in Singapore, Hong Kong and New York, the mechanism is to be ascertained by comparing lincage between SIEs’ roles and percieved rules which enable them to participate in the labour market and the influence from local government regulation towards market construction. Their job hunting is conditioned by their competency, their aspiration for the career and intermediary functions available in the host countries such as career agents and professional networks. Female SIEs leave Japanese labour market where male dominate assignments for the global positions in Japanese MNCs, and then they explore the new global market.

In this paper we argue that the results of these transactions help to understand the nexus betseen the development of SIEs’ career and the diversified global labour markets. One prominent source of diversification is the country of origin of MNCs that have the major influence upon their subsequent expatriate transactions. Though Japanese MNCs are not seen by them as preferable counterparts in these transactions, working as local hired employees in subsidiaries of Japanese MNCs is an easier option for Japanese female SIEs because of the advantage they have regarding Japanese language and culture. However, such involvements seldom meet their career aspirations, as they are often under-valued for their actual competencies. In non-Japanese labour market, employment is strongly conditioned by the host country’s visa policy requiring higher professional qualifications, and therefore Japanese SIEs who meet these condition, will be part of the construction of new global labour markets.