Probationers and emergency rehabilitation aid recipients sometimes have difficulty in finding permanent employment, on account of their history of crime or delinquency, their unfavorable environment, and so on. This, in turn, often hinders their attempts to reform and rehabilitate themselves. Private-sector volunteers who employ these individuals in understanding of their circumstances and who cooperate in their reform and rehabilitation are called"cooperating employers".
  As of April 1st, 2000, there were 4,401 cooperating employers, including individuals and companies, with 566 employees. Viewing the component ratios of these cooperating employers by industry, the most common was the construction industry with 50.7%, followed by manufacturing industries with 17.4%, and service industries with 9.5%, these three sectors accounting for 77.6% of the total(source:Rehabilitation Bureau, Ministry of Justice).