April 16, 2025
Japan Fair Trade Commission
FY2024 Engagement Study and Related Initiatives
Today, I would like to explain the results of the FY2024 Engagement Study, which were released last Friday, as well as the initiatives we are undertaking based on those results.
In line with the government’s policy, the JFTC has been actively promoting Evidence-Based Policy Making (EBPM), and has undertaken various initiatives to advance policymaking grounded in objective evidence. I will explain the engagement study conducted in FY2024 from the perspective of EBPM, which targeted staff members of the JFTC’s General Secretariat, as well as the initiatives that were developed based on the study results.
The term “engagement” is generally used to refer to a relationship in which the growth of individuals and the organization are aligned, allowing both to contribute to each other’s success.
First, I would like to explain the purpose of releasing this information. In recent years, there have been various media reports suggesting that the working conditions for government employees are poor. Some may also perceive the JFTC as being difficult to approach, or may not have a clear understanding of the actual working environment and roles of its staff.
In this context, in order to promote a better understanding of the activities of the JFTC, we believe it is important to present evidence-based analysis of staff engagement at the JFTC—which plays a vital role in enforcing the Antimonopoly Act—along with concrete initiatives to address identified challenges and pursue improvements, thereby enhancing the organization’s overall transparency. We also believe that strengthening the JFTC as an organization will help further advance free and fair competition.
Next, I would like to highlight four key points from the information we have released.
● First, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that a central government agency has publicly disclosed the results of an engagement study in such detail.
● Second, the study revealed the staff’s attitudes, such as more than 70% of the staff expressing a strong sense of alignment with the mission and policies of the JFTC.
● Third, the study applied statistical methods such as correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis, which helped identify the key factors influencing staff engagement.
● Fourth, based on the results of the study, senior officials engaged in in-depth discussions and decided to implement workplace improvement measures. These include enhancing communication from senior officials to staff regarding the purpose and importance of various organizational policies and directions.
Finally, the JFTC plans to continue its engagement studies beyond FY2025 and to implement further initiatives aimed at organizational improvement. By annually reviewing and acting on the study results, the JFTC aims to continuously enhance organizational performance and fulfill its mission more effectively.
As this study was conducted from the perspective of EBPM and includes personnel-related initiatives, it was jointly handled by the Policy Evaluation and Planning Officers of the General Affairs Division, Secretariat which is responsible for EBPM, and the Human Resources Strategy Officers of the Personnel Division, Secretariat which is responsible for personnel policies.
（Tentative translation）
Finally, the JFTC plans to continue its engagement studies beyond FY2025 and to implement further initiatives aimed at organizational improvement. By annually reviewing and acting on the study results, the JFTC aims to continuously enhance organizational performance and fulfill its mission more effectively.
As this study was conducted from the perspective of EBPM and includes personnel-related initiatives, it was jointly handled by the Policy Evaluation and Planning Officers of the General Affairs Division, Secretariat which is responsible for EBPM, and the Human Resources Strategy Officers of the Personnel Division, Secretariat which is responsible for personnel policies.
（Tentative translation）
