The central government has decided to cut the number of new recruits for fiscal 2013 by 56 percent from 2009, when 8,511 fledgling bureaucrats were hired, government sources said Saturday.
Deputy Prime Minister Katsuya Okada had initially aimed for a 70 percent reduction from fiscal 2009, but the goal was pared to 60 percent in light of growing concerns about reduced administrative services, the sources said.
The cut is to be formally approved by the Cabinet on Tuesday, and the internal affairs minister will be authorized to determine the maximum number of new hires for each ministry and agency, according to the sources.
The Cabinet decision is expected to include a clause allowing additional recruitment if necessary to handle recovery efforts in Kanto and Tohoku that were devastated by the Great East Japan Earthquake and nuclear crisis.