Tokyo - Post Report Question and Answers
What types of jobs do most expatriate spouses/partners have? Locally based or telecommuting? Full-time or part-time? Can you comment on local salary scales?
Some telecommute or work at the Embassy. Working on the local economy is difficult. - Jan 2024
There are lots of options. Some worked at the Embassy. It is also easy to telecommute or run your own home-based, US-based business. Other family members found rewarding jobs on the local economy or at international schools. - Nov 2020
EFM jobs at this post seem to be created or held for those incoming with the right connections. Many spouses teach English. - Mar 2019
My husband telecommutes with no difficulty. Much of the work for foreigners is either in IT or teaching. Salaries are comparable to a bit lower than similar entry level work in the US. - Mar 2018
Jobs are hard to find unless you are fluent in Japanese. EFM embassy jobs pay very little. - Mar 2017
Not unless you speak Japanese or telecommute although some people have succeeded. - Feb 2014
No, not really, which is a source of frustration with spouses. - Apr 2013
I think so - Jan 2011
Mostly teaching English. If you have a specific skill (computers, etc.), then you might be able to find something on the local economy, but many of those jobs require some Japanese language as well. There are quite a few EFM/MOH jobs, though, at the Embassy. - Oct 2008
It is quite easy to get jobs teaching English, either in schools or privately, and the pay is quite good. It is much more difficult to get any other kind of job unless you are fluent in Japanese. - Jan 2008
