Can't Work Without a Smartphone? 408 People Applied Without Contact Info, Result: "Zero Hires"

Daredemo Smartphone Research Center (Toshima-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Tsubasa Takahashi), operated by a service supporting the communication underprivileged, conducted a survey on people who have experienced being unable to contract a mobile phone. The results revealed that in modern society, where smartphones are essential, people who lose communication access are being distanced from administrative support and employment opportunities.

This survey uncovers structural issues hidden in modern social systems that cannot be dismissed as mere personal responsibility.

[ The Barrier to Entry: 235 People Could Not Consult Because They Lacked a Phone Number ] When facing financial crisis, administrative windows are a lifeline. However, some are stopped at the entry stage simply because they lack contact information. In this survey, 235 people were refused consultation or bookings because they didn't have a phone number. Support processes often require contact info for follow-ups, and those without it find themselves unable to even start the consultation process.

[ No Luck at Hello Work Despite Visiting ] A similar phenomenon occurs at public job placement offices (Hello Work). 125 respondents visited these offices, but 280 reported being rejected for day labor or gig work because they lacked a phone number or SMS authentication. Consequently, 408 people (about 70%) said they were hired for 'zero' jobs during the period they had no phone. The issue is not a lack of will to work, but an inability to coordinate interviews or receive results, forcing them out of the labor market.

[ First Action After Getting a Smartphone: Government Windows as the 3rd Most Contacted ] Once communication was restored, 84 people immediately contacted 'government/support windows,' ranking third after friends/acquaintances (247) and family (183). This data shows a desperate need for public assistance that could only be voiced after securing a communication method.

[ Summary: Phone Numbers are Essential Infrastructure ] In the digital age, phone numbers have transcended being just a communication tool; they are now an 'essential infrastructure' for receiving public support and employment. The cycle of isolation caused by exclusion at the entry point of the safety net and labor market is a structural issue that society must acknowledge.