Applicants for admission of civil engineering department of six universities in Tokyo area have been increasing in number since the Great East Japan Earthquake. One of them received this year 40% more applications than in 2011. But work fields which students want a position in has changed. All of the university officials said public service is getting popular among students.

More than 80% of all freshman students want to work for the government, a civil engineering professor said surprisingly. About 30% of 2013 graduates of another university work as public officials, which is the largest number among others, and less than 10% work in construction companies and consultants on the contrary.

This trend is common in the other schools. Especially the largest number of students wants to work for local government, which does not result only from an increasing number of positions in municipalities but also from students’ mindset that seek more stability, many universities said.

It is said that the construction industry will see a shortage of civil engineers in the future in addition to technical workers. It is meaningful for civil engineering major students to work as public officials contributing to local development such as community planning. But, at the same time, a decrease in number of students who want to get positions in the construction business could bring another crisis for development or succession of Japanese civil technologies. To raise interests in construction, it is important to convey excitement and attractions of craftsmanship to the young generations. (2013/12/02)