Event name: Regional Economic Report by Osaka Prefecture and City of Osaka
Date: July 25, 2012
Venue: Osaka Sangyo Sozokan
Co-organizers: Osaka Prefectural Government, City of Osaka
Number of participants: about 130 people.
Seminar Program:
Mr. Shinya Fukuda, Senior Researcher, Osaka Pref. Industry Economic Research Center, Mr. Yuhei Tokuda, Economic Research Chief, City of Osaka Urban Industry Promotion Center
Mr. Takashi Matsushita, Senior Researcher, Osaka Pref. Industry Economic Research Center.
1. Recent Economic Situation in Osaka
(By Mr. Fukuda) Composite Index (CI) of Osaka Pref. of last 6 month shows gradual recovery. Companies confidence also shows gradual recovery, although there still some weakness. While large corporation showed recovery, SMEs Diffusion Index (DI) remains sluggish. In demand side, consumer spending of Osaka Pref. was worsened due to reduction of sales floor of Hankyu Department. Also car and electric appliance sales were down. Export from Kinki region had slight decrease during last 9 months. Due to Economic situation in EU, export to EU decreased. Air shipping figure shows decrease of semi-conductor and electronics parts. For supply side, manufacturing of electronics parts and device has decreased. Although employment showed recovery, number of bankruptcy worsened.
(By Mr. Tokuda) As to Osaka City’s economic situation, manufacturing industry is still weak but overall economy shows gradual recovery. For demand side, consumer spending has been active. Export figures and number of foreign travelers showed good recovery. Employment situation also shows recovery.
2. Report on KIBS and personnel management
KIBS (Knowledge Intensive Business Service) is the general term for knowledge intensive business among service industry. KIBS covers service such as information service, Internet related service, audio visual service, design, advertisement, law and accounting related service, etc. In Osaka ratio of service industry has been increasing while manufacturing has decreasing. In 1975 manufacturing industry share in Osaka was 33% and service was only 10%, but now manufacturing is 15% and service is 26% (as of 2010). And it is considered that service industry can become core industry in the region. Among KIBS, there are two types: Technical-Kibs or T-KIBS (service utilizes IT) and Professional-Kibs or P-KIBS (Law service, accounting, advertisement, design, research, etc.). Also there are some issues for both T-KIBS and P-KIBS. For overall KIBS shortage of personnel, low wedge, and number of order reduce is major concern. For T-KIBS highly skilled professional are desired and for P-KIBS low wedge, severe competition, order reduce are major issue.