大学新卒者採用における「望ましい人材」像の研究 : 著名企業による言説の二時点比較をとおして  [in Japanese] A Study of the Desirable Characteristics for New University Graduates : Comparative Analysis of the Published Statements of Recruiters from Large Japanese Companies 1991-2001  [in Japanese]

The purpose of this study is to clarify changes in the image of desirable characteristics for new university graduate hirees after the collapse of bubble economy and the growth of the university enrolment rate in Japan during the 1990s. The hypothesis is explored that Japanese companies have changed their recruitment policy away from emphasizing future training potential and toward adaptable immediate fighting potential. For the analysis, articles from job-placement magazines for recruitment in 1991 and 2001 are used. Words and phrases are collected from the company recruiters' comments on the focus for hiring new graduates. Then, a check is carried out to look at changes in the frequency of top 36 items. Finally, an analysis is conducted of the combination-pattern of top 12 items, using Hayashi's Statistical Method III. The major findings are as follows. (1) The most frequent five items in both years tend to show activeness. "Individuality" ranks high only in 1991, and "Autonomy" in 2001. There was a significant rise in items showing practical ability, and a decrease in items showing personality. (2) Analyzing the top 12 items using Hayashi's Statistical Method III, two dimensions of the image of desirable new employees, "Appearance vs. Performance" and "Intention to make the company active vs. Intention to develop the company, " are found. Using the 1991 data, the items are categorized into four groups : "Cheerfulness, " "Innovative Action, " "Aspiration to Achieve" and "Spiritual Strength." For the 2001 data, they are categorized into three groups, removing "Spiritual Strength." The shift of "Autonomy" from the group "Aspiration to Achieve" to the group "Innovative Action" suggests that companies have placed increasing importance on the results of new employees' autonomous action compared to the process in which they set up and attain targets. (3) Analyzing the arrangements of average case scores by company size and type of business, it is suggested that the business condition of companies affects the image of desirable new employees. These results show that Japanese companies considered activeness as the essential element for new employees during the 1990s. However, the optional elements have changed from "Individuality", personality and processes to "Autonomy", practical ability and results. Companies may have given up on training young employees due to their strained business conditions. In conclusion, this study reveals that the image of desirable characteristics of new graduates changed from "objects of training" to "subjects who act autonomously."