From Oct 1, Aomori Prefecture will open the Foreign Talent Employment Support Desk on the second floor of Aspam in Aomori City, staffed by a dedicated counselor to advise on recruitment and onboarding of foreign workers. The desk also offers in-person consultations for firms considering foreign recruitment, and will coordinate with a living support desk in the same venue. For remote firms, coordinators will conduct touring consultations and local briefings, with regular itineraries planned in areas such as Hachinohe. As of late Oct 2024, foreign workers number 6,190 across 1,027 employers, up about 10% year on year. A prefectural survey found about 85% of firms do not currently hire foreigners, with about 60% of those planning to consider it. Key hurdles include visa status processing (1–4 months); with job content and planning, the hiring cycle can reach 7–9 months. The service is free; hours are weekdays 10:00–17:00, reservations via the prefectural website form or by phone at 017-752-1157.