Panasonic and Ory Laboratory Propose a New Recruitment Model Discovering the Potential of Human Resources with Disabilities through Remote Work: Commencing Recruitment towards Launching a Fully Remote Work Team

Panasonic Corporation (hereinafter referred to as Panasonic) and Ory Laboratory Inc. (hereinafter referred to as Ory Laboratory) held a talk event themed on the employment and recruitment of human resources with disabilities, titled "Beyond the Statutory Employment Rate: How to Recruit Talent that Cannot be Seen on Resumes of Human Resources with Disabilities," at the "Avatar Robot Cafe DAWN ver.beta" in Nihonbashi, Tokyo, on April 23, 2026. Panasonic and Ory Laboratory conducted a demonstration experiment on remote work for people with disabilities who have difficulty moving, utilizing the avatar robot "OriHime" for three months starting in November 2025. This was an effort to verify a new recruitment model that discovers talents that are difficult to see on resumes through actual corporate work. At this event, they reported the results of this demonstration while touching on the current status of employment for people with disabilities in Japanese companies and Panasonic's initiatives. They introduced that they confirmed the possibility of people with disabilities working without being bound by their work location through the use of technology. Furthermore, they indicated their policy of aiming to contribute to business growth and innovation by promoting "potential-based recruitment," which discovers the potential skills and strengths of each individual through remote corporate work experience and internships, and creates opportunities for active participation in combination with work design and environmental improvement, thereby supporting the retention of people with disabilities in the workplace and the demonstration of their abilities. In addition, individuals concerned who participated in the demonstration took the stage through the avatar robot "OriHime" and held a talk session with Panasonic employees. They spoke about the possibility of expanding work style options depending on how things are devised, and their expectations for further introduction of new work styles. Following the results of this demonstration, Panasonic announced that it has started recruitment centered on "potential-based recruitment" from April 2026, utilizing Ory Laboratory's recruitment service. Aiming to launch a team that conducts business through complete remote work, they will proceed with discovering potential skills not only relying on resumes but also through dialogue with applicants via remote casual interviews and work experience. Panasonic will continue to aim to realize the retention of people with disabilities in the workplace and the demonstration of their abilities by promoting "potential-based recruitment," and contribute to business growth and innovation. [Current Status of Employment for People with Disabilities] In July 2026, the statutory employment rate of people with disabilities in private enterprises will be raised in stages from the current 2.5% to 2.7%. On the other hand, the percentage of companies that have achieved the employment rate as of June 1, 2025 remains at 46%. Although the number of working people with disabilities is increasing to about 670,000 (*1), the retention rate is sluggish, standing at 80.5% three months after employment and 61.5% one year after employment, according to a survey by the National Institute of Vocational Rehabilitation (*2). The main reasons for leaving jobs include the workplace atmosphere and human relations, physical issues, and commuting difficulties (*3). [Overview of the Demonstration] In this demonstration, aimed at expanding the areas where people with disabilities can play an active role and promoting understanding of the employment of people with disabilities, people with disabilities took on a part of Panasonic's internal communication work and conducted interviews and wrote articles remotely. Ory Laboratory built a system that allows people with disabilities, including those with mobility difficulties, to execute business remotely without hindrance by utilizing the avatar robot "OriHime", video conference systems, chat tools, etc. In addition, Panasonic provided the interview environment, published the created articles internally, and fed back the reactions from employees. [Main Demonstration Results] In this demonstration, 5 people with disabilities who have mobility difficulties and usually handle customer service at the Avatar Robot Cafe conducted interviews with a total of 19 Panasonic employees. A total of 6 interview articles were produced and published internally. In a questionnaire given to Panasonic employees who participated in the demonstration, approximately 94% answered that "there was a positive change in their perception of the work ability and motivation of people with disabilities" (*4), showing an promotion of understanding and a forward-looking change in awareness regarding collaboration with people with disabilities. Furthermore, it was shown that by utilizing the avatar robot "OriHime" and video conference systems, people with disabilities can demonstrate their performance even in a remote environment without being bound by their work location. - Because the face of the avatar robot "OriHime" moved and our eyes met, I felt as if we were talking face-to-face. The delicate movements combined with the interviewer's dialogue skills realized smooth communication. - I had unconscious biases against people with disabilities, but interacting with the pilot (operating the avatar robot "OriHime") significantly changed my way of thinking. I was impressed by their high level of skills such as high communication ability, an attractive way of speaking, accurate responsiveness, and the ability to grasp the point. - The pilot's "ability to summarize points" and "appropriate phrasing"...