Obayashi, Kajima & Shimizu Recruitment 2026 – Japan Construction Jobs & Salary

Obayashi, Kajima and Shimizu are three of Japan’s five “super general contractors”, often called the super zenecon. Together with Taisei and Takenaka, they build many of the country’s skyscrapers, rail lines, tunnels, dams, hospitals and data centres. Their recruitment in 2026 is shaped by two pressures: a large pipeline of urban redevelopment, infrastructure renewal and factory projects, and a shrinking, ageing construction workforce. That makes these firms steady recruiters of civil engineers, architects, building services engineers and construction managers.

Most hiring happens in Japan, at head offices in Tokyo and at regional branches in Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka, Sendai, Sapporo and other cities, with project offices on large sites. All three also run overseas subsidiaries in North America, Southeast Asia and other regions, which hire locally. Career information is published on the official sites obayashi.co.jp, kajima.co.jp and shimz.co.jp.

This is an independent guide, not an official recruitment page. One honest point up front: the super zenecon mainly recruit engineers and managers, and most are Japanese university graduates hired through the annual new-graduate cycle. Skilled site trades such as scaffolding, rebar and formwork are normally done by subcontractor companies, and that subcontractor layer is where foreign construction workers on Specified Skilled Worker visas are usually employed.

Obayashi, Kajima & Shimizu Recruitment 2026 – Quick Overview

Detail	Information
Job Title / Roles	Site engineer, construction manager (sekō kanri), architectural designer, structural engineer, MEP/equipment engineer, estimator, R&D engineer, office staff
Country	Japan (plus overseas subsidiaries)
Industry	General construction, civil engineering, real estate development
Employers (examples)	Obayashi Corporation, Kajima Corporation, Shimizu Corporation (also Taisei, Takenaka)
Locations	Tokyo head offices, branches in Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka, Sendai, Sapporo, Hiroshima; project sites nationwide
Indicative Salary	About ¥280,000–¥320,000 per month for new graduates (base pay)
Experienced Salary	About ¥450,000–¥700,000 per month for senior managers, plus bonuses
Education	Bachelor’s or master’s degree in civil engineering, architecture, mechanical or electrical engineering for technical roles
Experience	None for new graduates; several years for mid-career hires
Language	Business-level Japanese (JLPT N1–N2 level) for nearly all domestic roles
Licence / Certification	1st/2nd class Construction Management Engineer, 1st Class Architect, Professional Engineer (gijutsushi) are valued
Work Schedule	Day shifts on site, some weekend and night works; overtime caps apply from April 2024
Visa Route for Foreigners	Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services (degree-based); site trades go through subcontractors on SSW

About Obayashi, Kajima and Shimizu

Each of these companies has more than a century of history. Shimizu traces its roots to 1804, Kajima to 1840 and Obayashi to 1892 in Osaka. Kajima is known for early high-rise work such as the Kasumigaseki Building, Obayashi was the main contractor for Tokyo Skytree, and Shimizu is known for large commercial buildings, hospitals and research into future construction technologies. Each reports consolidated annual sales in the trillions of yen and employs thousands of engineers.

A super general contractor acts as the main contractor. It wins the project, plans the schedule, manages safety, quality and cost, and coordinates many specialist subcontractors who supply the actual site labour. So when you read about “recruitment” at these firms, it mostly means white-collar technical and management jobs, not hands-on trade work. Recent priorities include digital construction (BIM/CIM), robotics, timber high-rises, renewable energy projects and semiconductor plant construction.

Types of Jobs at Super General Contractors

Construction Manager (Sekō Kanri)

Plans and controls daily site work, schedules subcontractors, checks quality and enforces safety. This is the largest technical job family at all three companies.

Civil Engineer

Works on tunnels, bridges, dams, railways, ports and land development, often at remote project offices for years at a time.

Architectural Designer

Prepares building designs in the company’s in-house design division, working closely with clients and structural teams.

Structural Engineer

Calculates seismic performance and designs frames, foundations and base-isolation systems, a key specialism in earthquake-prone Japan.

Equipment / MEP Engineer

Coordinates electrical, air-conditioning, plumbing and fire systems with specialist subcontractors and checks commissioning.

Estimator and Procurement Staff

Prepares cost estimates for bids, negotiates with suppliers and subcontractors, and tracks budgets during the project.

Research and Digital Engineer

Develops BIM workflows, site robots, new materials and environmental technologies at corporate research institutes.

Administrative and Sales Roles

Handles business development, legal, accounting, HR and general affairs, usually for graduates of humanities or business faculties.

Super General Contractor Salary 2026

Position	Indicative Monthly Salary (¥)
New Graduate Engineer (Bachelor’s)	¥280,000 – ¥300,000
New Graduate Engineer (Master’s)	¥300,000 – ¥320,000
Site Engineer (3–5 years)	¥300,000 – ¥400,000
Design Engineer	¥320,000 – ¥450,000
Equipment Engineer	¥310,000 – ¥430,000
Estimator	¥330,000 – ¥450,000
Construction Manager	¥450,000 – ¥550,000
Project Director	¥550,000 – ¥700,000

These are indicative base monthly figures drawn from public job-board ranges and reported starting pay; actual offers depend on the company, branch, track and individual review. Shimizu, for example, has reported around ¥300,000 a month for bachelor’s graduates on its national track, and all three pay twice-yearly bonuses on top of base pay, so annual income is much higher than twelve times the monthly figure. Overtime, site, housing and family allowances are usually added, and every role must at least meet the prefectural minimum wage (¥1,280/hour in Tokyo from October 2026).

Graduate Programmes, Career Paths and Benefits

Japanese super zenecon recruit mainly through shinsotsu saiyō, the new-graduate hiring cycle. Students usually join internships in the third year of university or first year of a master’s, register on the company’s graduate page, attend seminars, sit an aptitude test and go through several interviews. Offers are typically made a year before joining, and new hires start together each April. Mid-career (chūto) recruitment runs year-round for experienced engineers and managers.

Induction training: several weeks to months of group training, often including dormitory stays, safety education and basic site practice.
Job rotation: young engineers commonly move between projects and branches in the first ten years to build broad experience.
Licence support: companies encourage and often fund preparation for the Construction Management Engineer and Architect exams, with bonuses or allowances when you pass.
National vs area track: national-track staff can be transferred anywhere, including overseas; area-track staff stay in one region with slightly lower pay.
Housing: company dormitories or rent support for young staff, and site accommodation for remote projects.
Overseas postings: engineers with English skills may be sent to subsidiaries in the United States, Southeast Asia, Taiwan, Australia or elsewhere.
Welfare: full social insurance, corporate pension plans, employee shareholding schemes and long-service leave.

Foreign students graduating from Japanese universities can enter the same graduate cycle if their Japanese is strong. A small number of international engineers are also hired by the overseas group companies under local contracts.

Licences and Certifications

1st or 2nd Class Construction Management Engineer (sekō kanri gishi) — building, civil, electrical or plumbing works.
1st Class or 2nd Class Kenchikushi (Registered Architect) for design roles.
Professional Engineer (gijutsushi) for senior civil and structural engineers.
Supervising engineer (kanri gijutsusha) status, required on larger public and private projects.
Safety and health training certificates required under the Industrial Safety and Health Act.
Construction Career Up System (CCUS) registration is common for site-level staff across the industry.

Can Foreigners Apply?

Yes, but realistically only for professional roles and only with strong Japanese. A foreign graduate with an engineering or architecture degree, business-level Japanese and a residence status that allows the work (most often Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services) can apply through the same graduate or mid-career channels as Japanese candidates. Students already studying in Japan have the best chance because they can attend internships and interviews in person.

If you are looking for hands-on site work such as scaffolding, rebar fixing or formwork, the super zenecon are usually not the direct employer. Those jobs are offered by specialist subcontractors working on zenecon projects, and foreign workers normally enter them through the Specified Skilled Worker (construction) visa after passing a skills test and a Japanese test. Applying to the head office for a labourer post is unlikely to lead anywhere.

Eligibility

Degree in civil engineering, architecture, building services, mechanical or electrical engineering for technical tracks.
Any degree for administrative, sales and corporate roles.
Expected graduation by March of the joining year for new-graduate hiring.
Relevant project experience for mid-career positions.
Valid residence status permitting the role, or eligibility to obtain one.
Good health and willingness to work on sites and accept transfers.

Language Requirement

Business-level Japanese is expected; JLPT N1 or strong N2 is a practical minimum for domestic roles.
Reading drawings, specifications and safety documents in Japanese is part of daily work.
English is a plus for overseas projects and international design work.

Interviews, aptitude tests and entry sheets are normally all in Japanese.

Working Hours and Conditions

Site offices often start early, with morning safety briefings around 8:00.
From April 2024, construction is covered by legal overtime caps: in principle 45 hours a month and 360 hours a year, and even under a special agreement no more than 720 hours a year.
Companies are moving towards four-week, eight-day-off schedules (two days off a week) on sites.
Remote project postings may involve living near the site for long periods.
Design and research staff work mainly in offices with more regular hours.

The so-called “2024 problem” forced contractors to cut long hours, which has improved conditions but also increased the need for more staff.

Benefits

Twice-yearly bonuses, often several months of base pay in total.
Health insurance, pension and employment insurance.
Paid leave starting at 10 days after six months, rising with tenure.
Overtime paid at a premium of at least 25%.
Dormitory, rent subsidy, family and commuting allowances.
Licence exam support and qualification allowances.

Exact benefits are set out in each company’s employment rules and your offer letter.

Career Growth

Junior Engineer → Site Engineer → Construction Manager → Project Director

Passing the 1st Class Construction Management Engineer exam is a key step towards running sites.
Design staff can progress to chief architect or design division head.
Some engineers move into overseas management or corporate planning.
Specialists in BIM, robotics and environmental technology are in growing demand.

Skills That Can Improve Your Chances

Strong Japanese reading and speaking skills.
AutoCAD, Revit or other BIM software experience.
Understanding of Japanese building codes and seismic design.
Internship experience at a construction or design firm.
Project scheduling and cost control knowledge.
Leadership in team projects or student activities.
Safety awareness and site experience.
Willingness to relocate across Japan.
English for overseas projects.

Documents Required

Entry sheet and Japanese-style CV (rirekisho).
Degree certificate or expected graduation certificate.
Academic transcripts.
JLPT or other Japanese test results.
Passport and residence card (for foreign applicants).
Licence certificates and work history for mid-career applicants.

Each company states its required documents on its own recruitment page.

How to Apply

Step 1

Decide your track: new graduate, mid-career, or overseas subsidiary.

Step 2

Visit the official recruitment sections of obayashi.co.jp, kajima.co.jp and shimz.co.jp and read the job descriptions.

Step 3

Step 4

Prepare your entry sheet in Japanese, focusing on projects, motivation and teamwork.

Step 5

Complete the aptitude test and attend interviews, which may include a technical interview.

Step 6

For mid-career roles, also check Indeed Japan, Daijob and recruitment agencies that specialise in construction engineers.

Step 7

After an offer, confirm the visa route with the employer and the Immigration Services Agency before moving.

Beware of Fake Job Offers

Well-known contractor names are often used by fraudsters who promise easy jobs in Japan. The real companies recruit through their own websites and standard hiring processes, not through social media messages.

No genuine super general contractor asks for a “registration” or “visa processing” fee.
Be wary of offers for labourer jobs “directly with” a famous contractor.
Check that email addresses match the official company domain.
Do not send passport scans to unverified contacts.
Report suspicious offers to local police or the relevant labour authority.

Obayashi, Kajima & Shimizu Recruitment 2026 – FAQs

Are Obayashi, Kajima and Shimizu hiring in 2026?

All three recruit every year, mainly new graduates and mid-career engineers; check their official pages for current positions.

What is the starting salary at these companies?

Indicatively about ¥280,000–¥320,000 a month for graduate engineers, plus bonuses and allowances.

Can Indians or other foreigners apply?

Yes, for professional roles if they have a relevant degree, business-level Japanese and an eligible visa; site trade jobs usually come through subcontractors.

Do these companies hire construction labourers?

Generally no; site labour is supplied by specialist subcontractors working on their projects.

Is Japanese required?

For almost all domestic roles, yes, at a business level.

What is the “2024 problem”?

From April 2024, legal overtime caps started applying to construction, pushing companies to shorten hours and hire more.

Which licence helps most?

The 1st Class Construction Management Engineer qualification is highly valued for site management careers.

Do they have overseas jobs?

Their overseas subsidiaries hire locally, and Japanese staff are sometimes posted abroad.

Final Words

Obayashi, Kajima and Shimizu offer stable, well-paid careers for engineers and managers who can work in Japanese and handle demanding projects. If your goal is skilled site work instead, look at specialist subcontractors and the Specified Skilled Worker construction route rather than the head offices.

Disclaimer: Salaries shown are indicative. This is an independent guide and is not affiliated with Obayashi, Kajima, Shimizu or any other named company, agency or government office. No job, visa or salary is guaranteed. Always verify details with the official employer and with immigration and labour authorities, and never pay illegal recruitment fees.