Initial Job Listing Partners Include Convenience Stores, Restaurants, and Retail; Users to Be Able to Work at Over 40,000 Familiar Locations From the Mercari App
Mercari, Inc. announces that, as of March 6, 2024, it has launched Mercari Hallo, a “quick and easy for anyone” on-demand work service. Starting today, users will see a “work” tab in the Mercari app. Users who have completed identity verification and registered a bank account will be able to work at major businesses such as FamilyMart and Japan Post starting from as short as one hour and with no need to submit a resume or undergo an interview.1 At launch, the service will feature job listings from work locations in Tokyo and the three surrounding prefectures for March 7 and beyond, with plans to add listings from Mercari Hallo’s partners’ over 40,000 locations nationwide going forward. Mercari has also released a standalone app tailored specifically to working through Mercari Hallo.
To commemorate the launch of the Mercari Hallo service, Mercari has also started a promotion where users will receive 1,000 points on Mercari for each shift they work through Mercari Hallo.
1. The service will be rolled out in phases to Mercari app users starting today. Users must complete eKYC identity verification, confirm their nationality, and register a portrait photo in order to use the service. Users must be at least 18 years old to use Mercari Hallo.
Background of Mercari Hallo
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the concept of alternative work styles has begun to spread, with options such as remote work, full flextime, four-day work weeks, and outside work growing more popular. According to a survey by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare2, the most common reason stated by part-time workers under irregular employment contracts (workers not under regular full-time employment contracts; excludes seconded employees) for choosing their current type of employment is “because I can work at times that are convenient for me” (36.1%), followed by “because it’s easier to balance with my home situation (housework, childcare, family care, etc.).” These results indicate that workers are seeking alternative work styles to match their lifestyles.
These needs have driven a continued expansion of the use of on-demand labor, wherein workers can flexibly choose the hours they work to best suit their lifestyles, with the number of registered users on four major services reaching 10.7 million according to the Japan Spot Work Association.3 In a survey carried out by Mercari in November 2023, the percentage of respondents who answered that they had never used an on-demand labor service, but were interested in using one reached approximately 32%. From this number, Mercari estimates that there are approximately 7.5 million potential on-demand workers among its approximately 23 million monthly active users and believes that the use of on-demand labor services will grow even further in the future.
However, in a survey carried out by Mercari in February 2024, respondents listed reasons such as seeming like a lot of work to sign up (23.0%) and not thinking they would find jobs that suited them (19.1%) for not having used on-demand labor services, indicating ongoing issues with perception of these services. Broadly categorizing the responses, 43.8% of respondents indicated that they thought on-demand labor services looked difficult or troublesome to use, 19.1% thought that it was not for them, and 23.9% thought that they would face problems using them.
To solve these issues and enable users to flexibly work in a way that best suits their lifestyle, Mercari decided to launch Mercari Hallo, a “quick and easy for anyone” on-demand work service.
2. “Comprehensive Survey on the Diversification of Employment Forms (FY.2019),” Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare ( https://www.mhlw.go.jp/toukei/itiran/roudou/koyou/keitai/19/index.html )
3. As of May 2023
Overview of Mercari Hallo
By providing Mercari’s over 23 million monthly users with an experience that enables them to discover work in a way that is “quick and easy for anyone,” Mercari Hallo aims to make work easier for everyone.
Mercari Hallo’s Three Strengths
1. “For anyone”: Find work right from Mercari, used by over 23 million people of all ages and genders
Anyone can apply to a job through Mercari, which is used by more than 23 million people monthly. Whether you have experience with on-demand labor or it’s your first time, Mercari offers a friendly and familiar way to start a new job.
2. “Quick”: Apply using your information registered on Mercari, with no need to submit a resume or undergo an interview
Mercari Hallo enables users who have completed identity verification and registered a bank account on Mercari to apply for jobs quickly, with no need to go through the trouble of submitting a resume or undergoing an interview. Workers can receive their pay via bank transfer as fast as within the same day that they worked.
3. “Easy”: Discover work as easily as shopping on Mercari
Users can search for work from the “work” tab on the Mercari app, making discovering work feel as easy as shopping on Mercari. Mercari Hallo offers a range of jobs in a variety of industries and positions and starting from as short as one hour, enabling users to choose the work and time that best suits them.
Users who want to work more frequently or keep up with the latest job listings can download a standalone app to check and manage their applications, schedule, and new job listings.
At launch, wages will be paid to workers via bank transfer, but Mercari plans to enable workers to receive cashless wages deposited directly to their Merpay accounts through collaboration with Mercari Group company Merpay, Inc., as well as other integrations with existing Mercari Group services to enhance the convenience of Mercari Hallo.
Initial Mercari Hallo job listing partners
At launch, the service will feature job listings from major businesses in Tokyo and the three surrounding prefectures, including convenience stores, restaurants and cafes, clothing and retail, distribution and warehouses, drug stores, hotels, and gyms, with plans to add listings from Mercari Hallo’s partners’ over 40,000 locations nationwide going forward. Users will be able to apply to a variety of jobs that match their interests and experience near their home, school, or work.
Overview of Mercari Hallo launch promotion
To commemorate the launch of the Mercari Hallo service, Mercari will be carrying out the following two promotions to encourage anyone, regardless of experience with on-demand labor services, to utilize their free time to find work.
- Mercari Hallo launch promotion
- Period: Until 11:59 PM on March 31 (Sun.)
- Content: Receive 1,000 points on Mercari for each shift worked through Mercari Hallo (up to 10)
- Mercari Hallo app download & login promotion
- Period: Until 11:59 PM on March 31 (Sun.)
- Content: Receive 100 points on Mercari for downloading and logging into the Mercari Hallo app (includes preregistration)
- Promotion page URL:
Mercari Group’s mission is to “circulate all forms of value to unleash the potential in all people.” With Mercari Hallo, Mercari Group aims to make work easier and circulate the value of time and skills individuals possess to support people in doing what they love and achieving their dreams.
Details of Mercari Hallo
| Mercari Hallo app compatibility | iOS/Android |
| Usage fee (for crew) | None |
| Supported areas | At launch, Tokyo and the three surrounding prefectures (with plans to expand to other areas in the future) |
| Usage requirements | Users must be 18 years of age or older and have completed identity verification and registered a bank account on Mercari (non-Japanese citizens must be eligible to work in Japan) |
| Salary structure | Paid by the hour |
| Payment method | Bank transfer (at the earliest, same day) |
| Work hours | Starting from as short as one hour |