Japanese industries primarily employ engineers. The fact that Japanese industries overwhelmingly hire engineers reflects the types of skills that each industry considers most relevant to improving its production processes or provision of services. Machinery and equipment, and chemicals are the largest employers of scientists and engineers in manufacturing. Employment of scientists and engineers in manufacturing is concentrated within a few industries. Besides these two manufacturing industries, the remaining manufacturing industries employ only minor smaller shares of either scientists or engineers.
Manufacturing industries favor employment of engineers.
Engineers' share of scientist and engineer employment ranges from 55 percent in the paper, printing and publishing industry, to 88 percent in the transport equipment industry. Within the service sector, two industries account for virtually all employment of scientists and engineers. Economic Survey of Japan 1990-1991, Economic Planning Agency, Japanese Government, 1991. International Programs Center, U.S. Bureau of the Census. Japan Statistical Yearbook 1995, Statistics Bureau, Management and Coordination Agency, 1994.