Universal Studios Japan said Saturday that about 1,800 people lined up the same day to apply for part-time jobs this spring — twice as many as last year.
The push is part of USJ's annual recruitment drive. It needs about 1,200 people to fill 26 types jobs ranging from store clerks to park guides.
"This is the largest number of applicants we've had since the opening of the park," said a USJ official.
"It's probably because of the recession," he said.
Anyone between 15 and 59 is eligible to apply. Part-timers can be promoted to contract workers or even become regular employees.
According to USJ, it was having a hard time hiring part-time employees due to several conditions, including the cheap pay. But applications started increasing from last autumn as the economy began to drop.
"I have been looking for a job since last year because my contract (at my previous job) was not renewed" said a 36-year-old man from Osaka.
"I applied for the job because USJ is a big company and jobs are secure," he said. "I want to (eventually) become a regular worker."
