The “Services, N.E.C. (Not Elsewhere Classified)” sector, which includes industries such as security, waste management, and automotive maintenance, tends to have high turnover rates due to the demanding nature of the work environment. Although these professions play a crucial role in maintaining social safety and essential living infrastructure, they face challenges such as the perception of being “3K” (Kitsui, Kitanai, Kiken – Difficult, Dirty, Dangerous), irregular work schedules, and low wage levels.
This article provides a detailed analysis of the turnover factors in these service industries from four perspectives: working conditions, compensation/benefits, workload, and career development.
Turnover Rates in Services, N.E.C. (Reference Data)
The overall data for this industry combines the turnover rates of individual professions (security, waste management, etc.).
| Category | Services, N.E.C. Turnover Rate | Average Turnover Rate Across All Industries |
| Annual Turnover Rate | 18.7% (2022) | 15.0% (2022) |
| Turnover Rate within 3 Years (New University Graduates) | 45.0% (March 2022 Graduates) | 33.8% (March 2022 Graduates) |
| Turnover Rate within 3 Years (New High School Graduates) | 52.2% (March 2022 Graduates) | 37.9% (March 2022 Graduates) |
1. The Issue of Working Hours (Irregular Shifts and Harsh Environments)
Many of these professions involve social infrastructure, requiring them to respond according to customer needs and societal activities, which often leads to strict working hours and challenging environments.
Irregular Shifts and Long Hours (Security and Automotive Maintenance):
- Normalization of Night/Overnight Shifts: Security work frequently requires night and early morning shifts, depending on the facility or event, making it difficult to maintain a stable life rhythm.
- Overtime Due to Deadlines and Emergency Responses: In automotive maintenance, long overtime hours are common due to the need to handle vehicle inspections and urgent repairs.
Labor in Harsh Environments (Security and Waste Management):
- Outdoor Extremity: Security (e.g., traffic control) and waste management require long hours of outdoor work, even in extreme heat or cold, leading to significant physical strain.
- Early Morning Operations: Waste collection starts early when traffic is light, resulting in a lifestyle that differs from the general public.
2. The Issue of Compensation and Benefits (Wages Not Commensurate with Workload)
Many employees feel that the wage level is low despite the demanding nature, specialized skills, and social importance of the work.
Low Wage Levels:
- Mismatch with Physical Labor/Risk: Industries like waste management and security, despite involving physical strain and potential danger, tend to have lower salary levels compared to other sectors.
- Insufficient Evaluation of Skills and Qualifications (Automotive Maintenance): Even with mechanic certifications and advanced skills, employees sometimes feel their compensation does not adequately reflect their qualifications.
Self-Pay for Expenses:
- Cases exist where employees must partially cover essential business expenses, such as automotive mechanics purchasing tools or security guards paying for some of their cold-weather gear, which reduces their take-home pay.
3. Workload and Mental Stress
Beyond the “3K” factors, the low social valuation of these jobs contributes to mental stress.
The 3K Environment (Waste Management and Automotive Maintenance):
- Stress from Hygiene/Odor: Waste management involves significant unavoidable mental stress due to hygiene concerns and odors.
- Heavy Physical Labor: The work involves heavy tasks, such as lifting heavy objects and car maintenance, leading to strain on the lower back and joints.
Mental Stress from Social Perception:
- Professions like security and waste management often carry negative societal images (i.e., “difficult” or “dirty”), making it challenging for employees to maintain job motivation.
Pressure of Emergency Response (Security):
- Employees face intense psychological pressure to remain calm and effective when responding to accidents, incidents, or disasters.
4. Issues with Career Development and Training Systems
Except for the specialized technical field of automotive maintenance, a lack of clear paths for promotion and skill enhancement can cause anxiety about the future.
Vague Career Paths (Security and Waste Management):
- When job duties are routine, the path from field worker to manager can be unclear.
- Employees may feel that their hard work is not translating into better pay or status because the evaluation system is ambiguous.
Burden of Skill Acquisition (Automotive Maintenance):
- Due to rapid technological innovation, continuous self-study and qualification acquisition are required; however, some companies do not provide sufficient time or financial support for this.
- Personalization of Guidance: Training is often centered on On-the-Job Training (OJT), and the quality of instruction can vary widely as it is left to the discretion of individual senior staff.
The Structure of the Vicious Cycle
The high turnover in these service sectors is caused by a structural problem: “Low wages and heavy burden → People don’t stay, leading to labor shortages → The burden on remaining employees increases further → Working conditions worsen, and more people quit.” The biggest factor driving the high turnover rate is the lack of improvement in the working environment and compensation for services that are essential to society.
