Abstract
<p>Although study on job stress and coping among Highly Skilled Migrants (HSMs) has been increasing around Anglo European countries, little is known about Asian migrants working in Asian countries. The present study examined stress factors among South Korean HSMs in Japan and explored their coping strategies in relation to acculturation processes. Semi-structured interviews with eight participants found three main domains affecting work adaptation-related stress: acculturation and adjustment, life events, and job stress. Job demand, relationship formation, and company climate were identified as major job stress factors. HSMs tended to perceive job stress factors as being related to a cultural difference or unique characteristics of Japanese organizations. This qualitative study addresses an initial step towards researching Asian migrant workers in Japan society, suggesting importance of incorporating culture-specific issues in acculturation processes with their job adjustment issues. It is necessary for immigration policy makers to encourage reciprocal understandings between migrants and local colleagues for improving mental health and well-being of both groups in organizations.</p>
Highlights
As a consequence of globalisation, work-induced mobility and economic migration across national borders have been increasing over the past decades (Carr, 2010)
The current study focuses on South Korean Highly Skilled Migrants (HSMs) in Japan
With the categories and sub-categories created through analyses (Table 2), we present the model showing Korean HSMs’ workplace adaptation process
Summary
As a consequence of globalisation, work-induced mobility and economic migration across national borders have been increasing over the past decades (Carr, 2010). In Japan, declining fertility rates and population aging have increased the difficulty of securing human resources. In contrast to the past tendency where most migrant workers, mainly from developing countries, were involved in unskilled and low-wage occupations (Iguchi, 2014; Komai, 1997), today, there is increasing national interest in highly qualified migrant workers for securing professional human resources in the globalizing society. The government has established policies to give active support for the placement of international students in Japanese companies. These policies, established in 2008, aid the job seeking and settlement of international students after their graduation. We tried to understand both general and culture-specific stress factors surrounded in Japanese organization
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