Cannot Work Without a Smartphone? 408 Applicants Without Contact Information, Result: "Zero Hires"

Daredemo Smartphone Research Center (Headquarters: Toshima-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Tsubasa Takahashi), which operates a support business for communication-deprived individuals, conducted a survey targeting people who have experienced being unable to contract a mobile phone in the past, regarding their circumstances at that time. In modern society, where smartphones are indispensable as a life infrastructure, the current situation has become clear: people who have lost their communication contracts are being alienated from administrative support and employment opportunities. This survey reveals structural issues hidden within modern social systems that cannot be dismissed as merely individual responsibility. [ "Cannot Consult Without a Phone Number": 235 People Faced the "Barrier to Entry for Support" ] When facing a crisis of livelihood, administrative support centers are a lifeline, a safety net. However, there are cases where people are turned away at the stage before reaching support, simply because they "do not have contact information." In this survey, 235 people reported being denied consultations or reservations because they "did not have a phone number." In the process of advancing support and consultations at the counter, providing contact information is often required for follow-up communication and status confirmation. However, for people who have lost their means of communication, fulfilling this condition itself is difficult. As a result, people who sought support and visited the centers are unable to even enter the consultation process due to the reason of "not having contact information." [ Cannot Find Work Even After Visiting Hello Work ] Similar phenomena are occurring in employment support settings, which are meant to help people rebuild their livelihoods independently. 125 people responded that they "went to public offices such as Hello Work" when looking for work during a period when they could not contract a mobile phone. Furthermore, a total of 280 people responded that they had "experienced many times" or "experienced several times" being denied applications or employment for day labor or single-day part-time jobs due to reasons such as "not having a phone number" or "unable to perform SMS authentication." As a result of these accumulating circumstances, 408 people (approximately 70% of the total) responded that they "did not find" any work that actually hired them during the period they did not have a mobile phone. Even if people wish to work and visit public offices or apply for day labor, they are forced to withdraw from the labor market because they lack the means to coordinate interviews with companies or receive notification of acceptance or rejection. The reality that "they cannot get a job because they don't have contact information" rather than "they cannot find a job" not only results in individual disadvantages but also causes economic losses such as the loss of labor in a society facing labor shortages and an increase in public expenditure due to prolonged poverty. [ "Finally Connected...": The 3rd Most Contacted Party When They Got Their Own Smartphone Back Was "Government Offices/Support Centers" ] What actions did people who were blocked from both employment and support take immediately after regaining their means of communication? From this, data indicating a desperate need for public assistance was obtained. When asked who they first contacted by phone or email after being able to own their own smartphone again, 84 people responded "government offices/support centers," following "friends/acquaintances (247 people)" and "parents/family (183 people)." This shows that a certain number of people prioritize contacting administrative bodies over everyday communication. Free-form responses to the survey included comments such as, "It was sad that I had no means of contact for safety confirmation when I didn't have a phone," and "Being able to communicate properly brought peace of mind both physically and mentally." This confirms the reality that people can only send out an SOS to society once their communication is secured. [ Summary: Phone Numbers Are Not Just a Means of Communication, But "Essential Infrastructure" ] As society becomes more digital, phone numbers are transcending their role as mere means of communication and are becoming "essential infrastructure" for receiving public support and gaining employment. The fact that people who temporarily fall into poverty due to illness or unemployment are rejected at the entrance to the safety net or the labor market due to "not having contact information" is a structural issue that leads to a chain of isolation and cannot be overlooked. It is time for society as a whole to deepen its understanding of this invisible barrier that anyone might face tomorrow. ■ Survey Overview Survey period: February 25, 2026 - March 4, 2026 Survey method: Questionnaire survey Valid responses: 604 people Target audience: Men and women who have experienced not having a mobile phone for a certain period ● Request for credit notation when quoting or reprinting *When quoting or reprinting this release, please be sure to clearly state the credit. "According to the survey results conducted by Daredemo Smartphone Research Center..." When people in need seek help, they are pushed away from the counter because they do not have a phone number.