【厳選！】【西鉄】高卒で採用した若者をバス運転士に育成　「なり手不足」と「高齢化」は深刻　路線を守るには　福岡

The bus driver shortage is serious, leading to the closure of bus routes and reduced service. Nishitetsu is also facing an aging driver workforce, so in order to secure new talent, the company is focusing on recruiting "trained bus drivers" who train young high school graduates. Read the article about this video https://news.ntv.co.jp/n/fbs/category... ■Instructor "Okay, let's go." On August 23rd, Shunto Ishikawa (20) was behind the wheel at the Nishitetsu Bus Training Center in Onojo City, Fukuoka Prefecture. He said it was his second time driving a bus that day. ■Instructor "I'll turn the steering wheel slowly. That's right, slowly, slowly." He is currently working hard to obtain his Class 2 Heavy Vehicle License, which is required to drive a bus with passengers. ■Takashi Ishikawa (20) "It's difficult because there are a lot of things I need to get used to, like the size of the steering wheel." Ishikawa joined Nishitetsu in April of last year, right after graduating from high school. He joined as a "trainee bus driver," a program for high school graduates who want to become bus drivers. ■Ishikawa "I grew up in Fukuoka and always used Nishitetsu buses. The drivers were so kind to me that I decided I wanted to become a Nishitetsu bus driver." Nishitetsu began hiring "trainee bus drivers" nine years ago. This program was introduced in response to a specific issue. ■Junya Koga, Section Chief, Human Resources Strategy Promotion Office, Nishitetsu "We recognize the shortage of bus drivers and the aging population as serious issues." Nationally, there is a shortage of route bus drivers due to a lack of candidates and an aging population. At Nishitetsu, more than half of its 1,800+ drivers are over 50, with an average age of 51.7. If no measures are taken, the number of drivers will decrease by 35% in 11 years' time, 11 years from now, in 2035, due to an increase in retirements. ■Section Chief Koga "I don't think that hiring high school students will dramatically alleviate the driver shortage, but I think it is a very meaningful measure to simultaneously address both the aging population and the driver shortage." Due to the chronic driver shortage, Nishitetsu reduced its weekday service in the Fukuoka area by 469 trips, or 4.1% of its total, in March of this year. ■Passenger "I changed my departure to Hakata, but is it okay if I board at Tenjin?" ■Driver "I'll give you a separate ticket." Ishikawa, who aspires to become a driver, works as a customer service representative at Tenjin Bus Terminal in Fukuoka City while simultaneously taking a class to obtain a Class 2 heavy vehicle license. A legal revision last year relaxed the eligibility requirements to "be 19 years of age or older and have held a standard driver's license for at least one year" if the person takes a special course, providing a boost for early license acquisition. ■ Instructor "I'll stop just before the collision. Please brake gently so there's no shock." ■ Ishikawa "Wow." ■ Instructor "That was a little forceful." ■ Ishikawa "I believe this job involves dealing with the lives of many people, so I feel a sense of responsibility. I hope to one day drive on busy roads in Fukuoka City and become a driver that everyone will consider to be a skilled driver." To date, Nishitetsu has had approximately 20 high school graduates debut as drivers. To protect this essential transportation service in the region, we will continue to strive to secure new talent. *FBS Fukuoka Broadcasting Mentai Wide Broadcast, September 6, 2024, 5:00 PM For the latest news, please visit https://news.ntv.co.jp/n/fbs. X FBS Fukuoka Broadcasting News (@FBS_NEWS5) is also broadcasting.   / fbs_news5