Japanese have less desire for job success than US

A recent survey shows that the percentage of Japanese business employees desiring promotion in their jobs is just about half the figure in the United States.

A Tokyo-based non-profit organization, Global Enhancement of Women's Executive Leadership, conducted the survey on the Internet.

61 percent of Americans responding to the survey said they want to rise to a higher position in their jobs. 31 percent of Japanese respondents gave the same answer.

Asked if they are confident in their ability to do their work, 95 percent of Americans said "yes", while 46 percent of Japanese answered affirmatively.

A representative of the NPO expressed concern that Japanese firms would face a more difficult situation unless they employ people with various kinds of ability at a time when many companies worldwide are eager to recruit talented personnel.

The survey, which was conducted for 2 months from last December, sought the views of 4,000 people in Japan and the United States