September 17, 2025
Japan Fair Trade Commission
Recruitment of Fixed-Term Professionals
Today, I would like to talk about the recruitment of fixed-term professionals.
The Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) has been addressing emerging challenges in recent years, including those in the digital sector under the Mobile Software Competition Act as well as efforts to ensure fair transactions under the Fair Transactions Act (formerly the Subcontract Act). By responding effectively to evolving social needs, the JFTC strives to restore and maintain a sound competitive environment. To fulfill this role, the JFTC is committed to securing and developing highly specialized professionals. As part of these efforts, the JFTC is now recruiting lawyers, certified public accountants, and economists as fixed-term professionals.
On September 16, the JFTC launched the recruitment of 29 fixed-term lawyers. These lawyers will be engaged not only in enforcement activities under the Antimonopoly Act, the Fair Transactions Act, and the Mobile Software Competition Act, as well as litigation related to these laws, but also in policy planning, including the drafting of regulations and the development of guidelines.
On September 16, the JFTC also launched the recruitment of one fixed-term certified public accountant. This accountant is expected to provide support in cases involving alleged violations of the Antimonopoly Act, drawing on expertise in corporate accounting practices.
On August 1, the JFTC began recruiting several fixed-term economists. These economists are expected to engage in economic analysis, such as conducting quantitative analysis using data in merger reviews and in cases involving alleged violations of the Antimonopoly Act, as well as in ex-post evaluations of the effects of legal measures taken by the JFTC.
In order to maintain the high level of expertise required for economic analysis and to ensure the quality of such analysis, the JFTC considers it essential not only to utilize external professionals but also to foster an internal environment where its officials can continuously apply and further develop the economic analysis skills they have acquired.
As a new initiative starting in January 2025, the JFTC has introduced the “Economic Analysis Officer System.” Under this system, officials who are interested in or possess skills in economic analysis and wish to pursue this field will be offered:
1. Opportunities for long-term study at graduate schools of economics in Japan and abroad;
2. Preferential and long-term assignments to divisions engaged in economic analysis; and
3. A promotion framework under which economic analysis skills are given particular weight when appointing officials to managerial positions with primary responsibilities in economic analysis.
Through these measures, the JFTC aims to strengthen the development of officials with expertise in economic analysis and make full use of their capabilities.
By recruiting around 30 fixed-term professionals, the JFTC expects to enhance its expertise and implement competition policy with greater precision. Working alongside these professionals is also anticipated to help improve the specialized capabilities of other JFTC officials. Furthermore, after completing their terms, these fixed-term professionals are expected to play active roles in a wide range of fields, thereby contributing to greater understanding of the JFTC’s role and the importance of competition policy in Japan’s economy and society.
Details of the recruitment are available on the JFTC’s website, and we encourage those who are interested to consider applying. For further information, please contact the Personnel Division, Secretariat of the JFTC.
(Tentative translation)
