JT Human Resource Management

The JT Group human resources management philosophy

We believe that highly motivated employees with diverse skills and talent form the foundation of the JT Group’s success and contribute to our sustainable growth. In light of this, the JT Group proactively takes steps to secure long-term engagement and employee satisfaction.

Our employees are assets to the Company, and their skills and spirit are the driving force behind everything we achieve. We are pleased to be an employer of choice, and our positive workplace culture and environment help us to attract, retain, and develop talented individuals. We are also taking further steps to create a diverse and inclusive culture.

For our human resource management initiatives, please refer to the following.

Diversity and inclusion

Training and Keeping Our People

Percentage of open positions filled by internal candidates FY2021 FY2022 FY2023
91.2% 94.2% 83.2%
Turnover rate FY2021 FY2022 FY2023
3.98% 4.46% 4.02%

Gender Equality - Unleashing the talent of our Women

Ratio of women junior managers FY2021 FY2022 FY2023
19.5% 19.6% 26.0%
Ratio of women in profitable segments FY2021 FY2022 FY2023
13.1% 9.3% 19.0%
Ratio of women in STEM-related jobs FY2021 FY2022 FY2023
16.7% 19.9% 24.8%

Freedom of Association and Labor Unions

The JT Group supports the rights of our employees to free association and collective bargaining, even in countries where those rights are not legally protected. Our management team strives to maintain open, constructive relationships with unions and labor-management councils, and works closely with unions to ensure that we treat employees fairly and better than legally required, especially when they are affected by any closure of a business site due to adverse business conditions.

The JT Group has been enjoying positive labor-management relations for many years, adhering closely to the labor laws of every nation in which we operate. Our management team works to build open, constructive relationships with unions and labor-management councils, regularly discussing business plans, strategies, challenges, and other subjects with union representatives in each country.

In the European Union, following its laws and regulations, we have voluntarily forged agreements with European Works Councils. EWCs provide workers with information and opportunities for discussion about international labor issues related to business in Europe. They consist of representatives of corporate employees and management, and conduct regular annual talks.

Human Resource Management in Japan

For continuous growth the JT Group undertakes a range of initiatives to help employees grow and make the most of their skills. Specifically we help in career development, maintain attractive working conditions, and promote workplace diversity.

Attractive Working Conditions

Respecting Work-Life Balance

JT believes that with desirable work-life balance our employees get both a sense of fulfillment on the job and opportunities to broaden their perspective and experience and put their talents to greater use. Based on that conviction, we have built and are promoting systems and programs to support the range of workstyles as well as opportunities for employees to think differently about ways to work, by which we intend to foster an organizational culture that encourages every employee to embrace the diverse workstyles of their coworkers. We make programs available that employees can employ flexibly as they wish to make work easier and more satisfactory, especially when they want more time for family, raising children, caring for the sick and elderly, and other responsibilities.

Recognizing our initiatives to assist employees in raising children in particular, in 2008 the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare certified the JT Group for the first time as a corporation promoting measures to “support raising the next generation,” and again in October 2018 for a higher level of achievement with those measures.

“Platinum Kurumin” certification based on the Act on Advancement of Measures to Support Raising Next-Generation Children

Programs for supporting work-family balance

Leave Financial assistance Flexible work options
Childbirth and raising children Maternity leave before and after childbirth for self and spouse, childcare leave, short-term leave to support parents returning early to work Daycare, extended daycare, after-school program and babysitting Flextime, telework, reduced work hours, exemption from overtime work and late-night work
Elder and nursing care Non-expiring paid holidays saved for future use, caregiving leave Elder and nursing care

Promoting Diversity

JT prioritizes diversity in terms of race, faith, ethnicity, background, birthplace, gender, age, ability or disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and marital status, as well as individual experience and specialties, among others. We recognize that respecting people of different backgrounds and values and finding value in our differences lead to the Company’s sustainable growth, and therefore consider promoting diversity to be a management priority.

Our Ideals

We maintain the competitiveness of our businesses into the future and support sustainable growth through effort to maintain work environments that encourage diverse people to perform at their best.

Promotion of women's activities

For JT an important part of promoting workplace diversity is actively working to unleash the talents of women at work. We offer training programs and seminars to encourage continuing growth for women employees, and implement expanding initiatives to support a positive work-family balance. Women in JT Group management increased from 2.1% (24 people) on December 31, 2013 to 8.8%. on December 31, 2023. The following table outlines employment in general and the promotion of women managers in total JT employment in recent years.

  • * Total managers as of December 31, 2013: 1,165

Employment at JT (full-time employees)

FY2019 FY2020 FY2021 FY2022 FY2023
Total workforce 7,239 7,048 6,919 5,655 5,940
Women 1,142 1,170 1,199 1,124 1,198
  • * Numbers are as of December 31 of the corresponding year for JT on a non-consolidated basis.

(Reference) Employee age groups (as of December 31, 2023)

Total workforce Women
29 and younger 705 256
30-39 1,997 496
40-49 1,820 293
50-59 1,322 148
60 and older 96 5

Women in management at JT

Managers FY2019 FY2020 FY2021 FY2022 FY2023
Women 66 69 70 70 77
6.5% 6.8% 6.8% 7.5% 8.8%
Total workforce 1,016 1,022 1,033 934 879
Division heads and upper management FY2019 FY2020 FY2021 FY2022 FY2023
Women 2 1 1 2 4
2.1% 1.1% 1.1% 2.4% 4.7%
Total workforce 97 95 93 83 86
Newly appointed managers FY2019 FY2020 FY2021 FY2022 FY2023
Women 13 7 5 11 18
10.4% 9.0% 6.6% 8.5% 12.4%
Total workforce 135 78 76 130 145
  • * Numbers are as of December 31 of the corresponding year for JT on a non-consolidated basis.
  • * Newly appointed managers: Difference in numbers of managers between December 31 of the corresponding year and the year before for JT on a non-consolidated basis.

Action Plan in Compliance with the Act on the Promotion of Women's Active Engagement in Professional Life
We created an action plan in compliance with the Act on the Promotion of Women's Active Engagement in Professional Life.
Link to Japan Tobacco Inc. Action Plan (Act on the Promotion of Women's Active Engagement in Professional Life) (Japanese)

People with Disabilities

JT is working to provide further opportunities for employees with disabilities to achieve greater success.
We have set out our approach to hiring people with disabilities, and we will take action to promote it.
We have consistently exceeded the statutory employment rate for individuals with disabilities, as demonstrated by the data below.

Approach to Employing People with Disabilities

We aim to create an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive, regardless of disabilities.

  • The recruitment process and evaluations will be based fairly on adequate capacity and competence.
  • Opportunities and policies will be offered to encourage employees to actively engage with and plan their careers.
  • Employees will be given opportunities to deepen their understanding of disabilities and engage in discussions fostering mutual respect.

Employment rate of people with disabilities at JT and statutory employment rate

2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Employment rate of people with disabilities at JT 3.23 3.20 3.57 3.38 3.23
Statutory employment rate 2.2 2.3 2.3 2.3 2.5