With the job-offers-to-applicants ratio for college of technology graduates exceeding 35x, companies are strengthening their hiring of these graduates, who are regarded as immediately deployable talent amid IT talent shortages and an era of frequent job changes. Major banks and securities firms are also reportedly beginning to hire college of technology graduates.
Interest in students at colleges of technology, known as kosen, is growing in the employment market. The job-offers-to-applicants ratio is 35.3x, according to the National Institute of Technology, and demand for college of technology graduates far exceeds the 1.66x ratio for university graduates. There are 58 colleges nationwide, and demand from companies is increasing because graduates can apply their expertise in science and engineering. It has also been pointed out that, in terms of graduates' employment outcomes, the extent of the knowledge they acquire is a factor, while a certain proportion repeat years or drop out.
Companies are strengthening efforts to use college of technology graduates as immediately deployable talent amid rising demand for IT, DX and AI personnel. One example is Tokyo Water, a third-sector entity, placing billboards near colleges of technology to actively recruit students. Around 20% of its actual hires are reportedly college of technology graduates. In addition, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank began hiring college of technology graduates from April 2024, and SMBC Nikko Securities began hiring them for comprehensive-track positions from the 2025 recruiting cycle.