Interested in a chemical engineering career in Japan? In this article, we introduce the chemical engineering industry in Japan, the average salary of a chemical engineer in Japan, requirements to be a chemical engineer in Japan, and other useful information to kick-off your career.
First Published: 2020/09/11
Updated : 2024/04/22
Table of Contents
- Chemical Engineering in Japan
- Chemical Engineering Jobs in Japan for Foreigners
- How much is a chemical engineer's salary in Japan?
- Requirements of Chemical Engineer Jobs in Japan
- Find a Job in Japan with WeXpats
Are you having any issues with job-hunting in Japan?
Chemical Engineering in Japan
Chemical engineering in Japan is a prominent field of study and industry. Japan has a strong reputation for its advanced technology, innovation, and research in various sectors, including chemical engineering. So how good is Japan’s chemical engineering on a global scale?
According to the Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN), runned by the American Chemical Society, the Global Top 50 Chemical Firms for 2022 included 6 Japanese chemical engineering firms! They are:
- Rank 11 - Mitsubishi Chemical Group
- Rank 19 - Sumitomo Chemical
- Rank 20 - Shin-Etsu Chemical
- Rank 22 - Toray Inudstries
- Rank 29 - Mitsui Chemicals
- Rank 38 - Asahi Kasei
In 2021, there were 2 additional Japanese chemical firms in the listing - Tosoh and DIC. Unfortunately, they fell off the ranking for 2022 as they did not achieve enough sales to make the cut, presumably due to the Coronavirus pandemic. In 2022, many of the chemical firms are showing a recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic so we may see a return of other Japanese chemical firms in the upcoming rankings.
※ C&EN, “C&EN’s Global Top 50 chemical firms for 2022” [July 24, 2022; Volume 100, Issue 26]
The Chemical Industry of Japan
Japan’s chemical industry is one of the largest in the world. In the Japan Chemical Industry Association (JCIA)’s latest annual report - “2022 Chemical Industry of Japan”, Japan ranked highly when compared against other countries around the world. Though China dominated chemical sales globally, Japan came in 3rd globally with chemical sales of 182.7 billion US dollars.
Furthermore, the chemical industry is considered one of the largest industries among the manufacturing sector in Japan, coming second only to the automobile (transportation equipment) manufacturing industry. In 2020, the automobile (transportation equipment) industry produced 60 trillion yen worth of sales, while the chemical industry (including plastic and rubber products) produced sales worth 44 trillion yen.
Japan’s chemical industry supports people’s lives and other industries - manufacturing (of course), medical devices & pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, shampoo & bodywash, electronic devices, fertiliser, food packaging, clothing, and more.
Considering the wide scope that the chemical industry covers, it is unsurprising that there is a constant demand for workers, especially those with a chemical engineering or science background. As of June 1 2021, there are over 930,000 workers employed in the chemical industry, making it the 3rd largest industry among other manufacturing industries in Japan.
※ JCIA, “2022 Chemical Industry of Japan in Graphs” [2023-02-01]
Writer's Pick
Chemical Engineering Jobs in Japan for Foreigners
Is the chemical engineering industry in Japan in need of foreign national workers? As previously mentioned, the chemical industry in Japan is always in need of workers, and this includes foreign workers. In fact, there is a great demand for engineers in general within the chemical industry.
This news article by C&EN illustrates this point well,
“The shortage is especially acute in the manufacturing sector, perceived to be in decline by Japanese youth. The problem shows up in the chemical industry, where companies are struggling to find both young blood and experienced staff.”
“People with both technical and English-language skills are especially hard to find. As Japanese chemical firms increase their business overseas, they need bilingual technical staffers in their head offices who can interact with customers and communicate with R&D staff abroad.”
(Excerpts taken from https://cen.acs.org/careers/employment/Japans-chemical-industry-struggles-find/96/i33)
There is no shortage of chemical engineering jobs in Japan for foreigners, one would only need to start looking.
How much is a chemical engineer's salary in Japan?
A chemical engineer’s salary in Japan can vary greatly depending on work experience and highest education level achieved. For each higher level of education achieved, you can earn at least 50% more than the previous level.
The expected salary range for a Bachelor’s graduate chemical engineer in Japan is between 240,000 yen (starting salary) to 840,000 yen. For someone with less than 2 years experience working a full time chemical engineer job, you can expect to earn around 3 million to 3.5 million yen a year. The more experience and higher the professional level you climb, the higher your salary will grow. Those with 5~10 years of experience can expect to earn around 6 million to 6.5 million a year with a monthly salary of 500, 000 to 600,000 yen.
And, as previously mentioned, having a Master’s or PhD degree will affect your earnings.
Requirements of Chemical Engineer Jobs in Japan
The specific requirements for chemical engineer jobs in Japan can vary depending on the company, position, and level of experience. However, here are some general qualifications and skills that are often sought after by employers in Japan.
Relevant Education Background
A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in chemical engineering is typically required. If you are looking for a job in the chemical industry, but not specifically as a chemical engineer, there are also other similar positions. These would typically require an engineering degree, such as mechanical, electrical, or industrial. Your degree can be a local Japanese degree or an overseas degree.
If you are interested in studying chemical engineering, chemistry or science in Japan, there are Japanese universities that offer courses in English, or a mix of Japanese and English. Still contemplating whether to study in Japan, here are several reasons why you should!
Language Skills
Japanese proficiency of at least JLPT N2 is highly recommended for chemical engineering jobs in Japan. Some job postings require JLPT N1 or native level Japanese proficiency. In addition to that, English proficiency of at least intermediate or business level is also required. If you know other foreign languages, it will be a huge plus when it comes to job hunting.
Technical Knowhow
With the exception of fresh graduate entry jobs that require at least an undergraduate degree in chemical engineering or engineering related field, mid-career jobs will expect you to have a basic understanding of what you need to know for your position and some working experience. Naturally, the higher the position you are applying for, the more knowledgeable and higher expertise is required of you.
Find a Job in Japan with WeXpats
The chemical industry in Japan is always in need of workers, and recently, there has been a demand for bilinguals. Not just chemical engineers, the chemical industry is in need of other types of engineers, data scientists, technicians, and any type of technical specialist with English capabilities. As Japan’s chemical companies extend their reach overseas, the need for more bilingual staff will grow.
WeXpats operates a service for foreign nationals who want to work in Japan. There are jobs in a variety of industries including chemical engineer positions. There are 2 services available on WeXpats - WeXpats Agent for full time jobs and WeXpats Jobs for part time jobs.
Looking for a Full Time Position? Leave it to WeXpats Agent!
WeXpats Agent is a career support service that specialises in employment for foreign nationals living in Japan.
Recruitment agencies in Japan are a service where dedicated career advisors will assist you with your job hunt for free. In addition to introducing open positions, we also provide support to help you create your Japanese resume and practice for interviews. Worried about job hunting in Japanese? We are here for you.
Features of WeXpats Agent
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We have many job openings that are a good fit for foreign nationals to work in, such as translation, interpretation, inbound, etc. jobs that make use of your language skills, as well as engineering etc. jobs that do not require Japanese skills.
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Our career advisors support and help you prepare your resume and practice job interviews with you. Clearly communicate your strengths to the hiring company.
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We will handle communication with companies on your behalf, such as arranging interview dates and negotiating conditions. And thereby reducing your stress and time spent.
Finding a Part Time Job? Browse on WeXpats Jobs!
WeXpats Jobs is a part time job site for foreign nationals living in Japan. You can search for jobs in 11 languages (English, Vietnamese, Korean, Indonesian, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Burmese, Thai, Spanish, Portuguese), including Japanese. Find jobs that suit you by specifying your Japanese language level, occupation, location, and etc.
※ You can register from outside Japan, but only those living in Japan can apply for jobs.
