Japan to use employment insurance to support recurrent education

December 6, 2017

Tokyo- The Japanese government plans to utilize its employment insurance program to support recurrent education, economic and fiscal policy minister Toshimitsu Motegi said Tuesday.

In recurrent education, people already in the world of work return to school to study. The government hopes that support for recurrent education will help prevent unemployment and boost productivity by improving the quality of labor.

An emphasis should be placed on preventing unemployment following the example of preventive medical care, Motegi told a press conference.

The number of people who want to study again at college and other educational institutions after landing jobs is on the increase. But there are barriers including how to cover costs and time.

The government plans to tap funds at its labor insurance special account, pooled mainly for jobless benefits, to support recurrent education.

The Council for Designing 100-Year Life Society, a government expert panel, will discuss details.

Specific measures will be included in a final report on ways to promote human resources development that the panel is set to compile next summer. Jiji Press