Nissan Motor Co. announced on Feb. 26 that recruitment of non-engineering college and high school graduates will resume for the first time since 1995. The major automaker plans to hire a total of 900 people in the spring of 1998, a major increase from the 146 recruits the firm expects to hire in April this year.
Nissan, which has suffered from sluggish sales and weaker overseas competitiveness caused by the strong yen, has been limiting recruitment activities to engineers as part of its restructuring efforts. But the recent depreciation of the yen has given the firm breathing space to increase the number of new employees, which would help revitalize the company as a whole, Nissan officials said.
The firm will still continue to restructure its personnel levels, the officials said, adding that the number retiring in the 1997 business year is expected to total 1,500. In April 1998, the firm plans to hire 200 non-engineers, 300 engineers and 400 factory workers. Of the engineers, 100 will be recruited on a year-round basis.