Quarterly Survey of Overseas Subsidiaries

Domestic and Overseas Employment

• The total number of regular employees at Japanese parent companies was 2 million and 497 thousand, down by 2.2% from the same period of the previous year, decreasing in twelve industries except precision machinery industry.
  The total number of employees at overseas subsidiaries was 1 million and 344 thousand, down by 1.0% from the same period of the previous year, decreasing for the first time since this survey began to be conducted. In terms of regions, the number decreased in all regions except China and Other Asian Countries. In light of comparison of DI, the employment outlook for October 1998-March 1999 is down by 8.5 points from -32.3 to -40.8, which means that the percentage of domestic parent companies forecasting a decrease in employment has been increasing. In terms of business categories, the DI went down in eleven industries except food and tobacco industry and steel industry.
  Concerning overseas subsidiaries in total, the employment outlook for October 1998-March 1999 is down by 7.1 points from 3.0 to -4.1, which means that the percentage of overseas subsidiaries with bright outlook is falling. In addition, this was the first time that the DI turned into negative since this survey started. In terms of regions, the percentage of overseas subsidiaries with bright outlook has decreased in all regions.