Japan Employers Compete for Osaka Expo Workers as October Closing Nears

A job fair draws 2,500 workers and 107 employers

About 2,500 people attended a job fair for Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai workers on Sept. 14 and 15, as 107 companies sought staff whose language skills and hospitality experience could fill jobs after the event closes on Oct. 13. Held at ATC Hall in Osaka's Suminoe Ward, the fair brought together employers ranging from luxury hotels and department stores to manufacturers and theme parks.

The Expo relies on roughly 20,000 workers on busy days. They guide visitors, support security, serve food, clean public areas, inspect tickets, manage lost property and answer questions at information desks. Many were hired only for the Expo season, meaning a large group of experienced workers will enter the job market at around the same time.

Employers see an opportunity to recruit people who have already learned to serve visitors under pressure. Their experience combines communication across languages and cultures with practical decisions about queues, directions, complaints and unexpected problems. Companies hope those workers can move into roles dealing directly with customers with little extra training.

Staffing company Pasona organized the fair. Kyoko Sanematsu, its executive managing officer, said the hospitality and problem solving experience gained through the national project would benefit workers' careers long after the closing ceremony.

College students who worked at corporate pavilions are considering careers in hotels and aviation. International staff who managed teams at country pavilions are exploring international exchange work. Pasona also provided a consultation corner for foreigners studying Japanese, reflecting the international makeup of the Expo workforce and the different kinds of support people need as they look for their next job.

Why recruiters value work at the Expo

Recruiters point to three qualities in Expo staff: the ability to communicate clearly in English or other languages, calm performance when crowds are heavy, and hospitality that combines courtesy with quick decisions. Hotels, department stores, airports, attractions and premium retailers need much the same mix.

A worker helping a visitor at a pavilion may need to explain a delay, find an alternative route and coordinate with colleagues within minutes. At an airport or hotel, the details change, but the basic task remains familiar: understand what a customer needs, give accurate information and keep the service moving.

Expo workers also gain experience helping people from different cultural backgrounds. A visitor unfamiliar with Japanese transport, ticketing or service customs may need an explanation that goes beyond a short answer. Employers value staff who can make that information understandable while remaining friendly during a busy shift.

For businesses preparing for the winter holidays and the spring travel season, the Expo's closing creates a concentrated recruitment opportunity. Workers are thinking about their next step just as companies are seeking people who can take on responsibilities without a lengthy introduction to customer service.

Hotels and department stores seek service talent

Hotel groups are expanding and want staff who can provide service at the level expected from a concierge from their first day. Department stores are seeking people who can assist affluent travelers and returning domestic customers with the care associated with pavilion entrances and VIP lounges.

A recruitment officer from The Royal Hotel, which operates Rihga Royal Hotels, described the group's growth plans and its interest in experienced service staff.

"We plan to launch multiple new ventures within our group and want to hire as many people as possible with high customer service skills and hospitality," the officer said.

Naoya Araki, president of H2O Retailing, the owner of Hankyu Hanshin Department Stores, explained why communication skills matter on department store floors and in VIP salons.

"To keep growing, we need to attract affluent customers, including visitors from overseas. We hope to hire people who can communicate with those customers and deliver good hospitality," Araki said.

Both employers are looking for skills that extend beyond speaking another language. Staff must listen carefully, understand a customer's expectations and respond appropriately. Expo work gives recruits repeated practice in combining those tasks while serving large numbers of people.

USJ plans to hire more than 100 people

Universal Studios Japan in Osaka aims to hire more than 100 people and is holding monthly recruitment sessions at Hello Work public employment centers through November. The schedule gives Expo staff opportunities to consider a move before and after the event closes.

Workers at Yumeshima, the reclaimed island hosting the Expo, have spent the summer surge managing queues, directing visitors, handling lost property and supporting live entertainment. Those duties closely resemble the daily work of a theme park, where staff must balance visitor care with schedules and the movement of crowds.

Takanobu Okawara, a human resources manager at Universal Studios Japan, described the connection between the two workplaces.

"Work at the Expo and at USJ is highly compatible. We expect many Expo workers will choose us," Okawara said.

Company representatives said the arrival of Expo applicants would provide a timely boost after a period when applications had slowed. The approaching closure gives workers a natural point to consider changing jobs and employers a chance to explain what they can offer next.

How the Expo prepared its service crews

The Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition commissioned a joint enterprise to recruit and manage an Expo Service Crew for operations involving direct contact with visitors. Applications opened in April 2024 for duties including information desks, ticket inspection, pushchair rentals, lost property and support for lost children.

The positions included structured training and clearly defined responsibilities so staff could work confidently once the gates opened. The organizer's Expo 2025 recruitment information describes the program and its responsibilities.

Official materials describe the service crew as the face of the event. Workers needed to greet millions of visitors, answer complicated questions about exhibits and transport, and coordinate with security and medical teams when necessary.

Those responsibilities build practical habits: giving accurate directions, calming tense situations and helping families find their way in unfamiliar surroundings. They also require staff to notice when a problem needs another team's help. Employers seeking staff for reception desks and other public service roles value that combination of calm communication and fast coordination.

Hospitality includes queues, teamwork and suitable uniforms

Expo staff practice omotenashi, a Japanese approach to hospitality that anticipates a guest's needs and works to improve their experience. It involves more than politeness. Workers must listen actively, pay attention to their surroundings and take action before a difficulty becomes a complaint.

At the venue, that can mean moving visitors smoothly from entrance gates to pavilions, keeping lines orderly or explaining delays and alternative routes in ways that reduce stress. Staff also gain experience leading small teams, stepping in to help colleagues when one area comes under pressure.

Uniforms are another part of keeping service consistent during demanding shifts. Suppliers designed attendants' outfits to balance formality with practical needs, using fabrics intended to remain breathable during summer heat and sudden rain.

A uniform program for a signature pavilion worked to reduce waste and water use while incorporating new materials for protection from heat and ultraviolet radiation. The aim was to help staff remain comfortable and focused during long outdoor shifts while giving the team a consistent appearance.

Higher wages reflect difficult commutes and scarce staff

Japan's persistent shortages of workers in customer service, hotels and food service form the backdrop to the recruitment effort. The return of overseas tourism has increased demand for multilingual employees while businesses are already stretched to maintain staffing.

Expo job listings, including transportation positions, offered hourly pay well above the average for part time and temporary work in Kansai. Some roles approached or exceeded 2,000 yen an hour. The higher rates helped organizers and contractors recruit enough workers to meet opening day targets.

Travel to Yumeshima was one reason employers needed attractive pay. The commute can take considerable time, and workers needed dependable transport for assignments beginning early in the morning or ending late at night. Driver pay also rose after legal limits on overtime tightened in 2024, increasing the value of qualified operators.

Other major attractions in the region have raised hourly rates to secure workers, while hotels have increased recruitment budgets during the tourism rebound. Some smaller businesses near the Expo venue have reported difficulty matching the pay offered by large operators, making staff retention harder.

Recruiters expect upward pressure on hourly wages to remain visible through the end of the year as Expo contracts finish and employers seek staff for winter holidays and spring travel. The competition therefore extends beyond finding a new workplace for Expo employees: businesses are also competing over pay and their ability to keep experienced people.

International arrivals have increased service demand at Kansai airports, city hotels and shopping districts. Expo workers who can greet travelers in English, Mandarin, Korean or Spanish, explain transport and accommodation, and resolve ticketing or lost property problems bring abilities that are scarce in many workplaces.

Companies dependent on premium service or tourist spending see an opportunity to improve customers' experiences by recruiting people who have practiced those habits during six months of demanding work.

International pavilions open several career routes

Country pavilions brought together workers from Japan and abroad, creating routes into employment through both local and international recruitment. At the fair, foreign staff who had come on working holiday visas sought jobs that would let them continue improving their Japanese while using their customer service experience.

Support desks addressed questions from foreign residents about resumes, Japanese study and interview preparation. Those consultations reflected employers' interest in a diverse workforce and the practical help some candidates need when moving from an Expo contract to another position.

The Canada Pavilion sought bilingual reception and protocol staff, operations support workers and drivers before the Expo season. Its recruitment invited Canadians with Japanese ability as well as local residents to apply. Protocol work involves helping manage official guests and formal occasions.

The United States Pavilion filled roles through a Youth Ambassador program supported by the U.S. Department of State. Young Americans came to Japan for terms of three or six months, with travel, housing and insurance covered and a stipend provided. Japanese language ability was preferred but was not required. The program focused on public engagement and cultural exchange.

Such programs provide an entry into international careers, including event operations, tourism, public diplomacy and trade. Alumni often move into airlines, hospitality management, destination marketing, cultural institutions and technology jobs supporting visitor experiences.

Guiding a family through a crowded pavilion while keeping a performance on schedule uses skills similar to those needed to move passengers through a busy airport gate or manage a shop floor during a holiday rush. The setting changes, but coordination, communication and attention to the customer remain central.

Language support can help turn a contract into a career

For foreign residents, Japanese language training and a clear route to promotion can help make a temporary job the start of a longer career. Employers considering retention need to think about what happens after the initial recruitment decision.

The fair's consultations for foreigners studying Japanese pointed to a practical approach. Language support, mentoring and transparent promotion criteria can help companies retain international staff who already understand Japanese customer expectations and etiquette. Continued learning can also improve service across a team.

Many Expo workers want to keep the combination of hospitality and international contact they experienced at the event. Employers see potential matches in businesses that operate throughout the year and value staff who can take responsibility when dealing with the public:

• Airports and airlines, including support with check in, lounge service and gate assistance.
• Hotels and resorts, including concierge work, reception, guest relations and events.
• Theme parks and attractions, including guest services, parade and show support, and operations.
• Department stores and premium retail, particularly multilingual service and VIP customer relations.
• Food and beverage groups serving tourists and business travelers.

Public employment centers in Osaka have scheduled career sessions aimed at service workers, and private employers are planning follow up events for candidates who missed the large fair. Department stores and hotel groups are expected to continue interviews into winter as seasonal demand increases.

The dates and experience that matter next

Recruitment will continue after the Expo gates close on Oct. 13. Universal Studios Japan's monthly sessions run through November, giving workers a scheduled opportunity to seek another role after completing their event duties.

The recruitment timetable stretches from preparations before opening to the weeks after closing:

• April 2024: Applications opened for Expo Service Crew positions.
• Sept. 14 and 15, 2025: About 2,500 attendees and 107 companies took part in the Pasona job fair at ATC Hall.
• Oct. 13, 2025: Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai reaches its final day.
• Through November 2025: Universal Studios Japan continues monthly recruitment sessions at Hello Work centers.

Recruiters advise candidates to explain their Expo work through concrete results rather than relying on the event's name. A hiring manager needs to understand how that experience matches duties such as resolving guest complaints, covering a sales floor or managing a queue.

Useful details include how many visitors a worker assisted, which languages they used and how they worked with other teams. Candidates can prepare examples covering:

• The number of visitors handled on peak days and average interactions during a shift.
• Language use, such as guiding tour groups or resolving a lost property problem in English or another language.
• Coordination with security, medical teams or transport staff.
• A stressful situation that ended positively for a guest.
• Flexibility with shifts, weather and sudden changes to the program.

Those examples help employers connect six months of Expo work with the responsibilities of a new position. For workers approaching the end of their contracts, the strongest opportunity lies in showing how the service they delivered on Yumeshima can meet a new employer's daily needs.

What to Know

• The Sept. 14 and 15 job fair attracted about 2,500 people and 107 companies.
• The Expo uses roughly 20,000 workers on busy days and closes on Oct. 13.
• Employers value language skills, hospitality, teamwork and calm decisions under pressure.
• Universal Studios Japan aims to hire more than 100 people and will hold monthly recruitment sessions through November.
• Hotels and department stores want staff who can serve domestic customers and overseas visitors.
• Some Expo jobs approached or exceeded 2,000 yen an hour amid staff shortages and demanding commutes.
• International pavilion programs and language support have created several routes into further employment.
• Career sessions and employer interviews are set to continue after the Expo ends.