Japan’s government is planning to allow over 800,000 foreign workers with specific skills to come to the country over the next five years, starting in 2024.
This move aims to tackle the shortage of workers in industries such as manufacturing, construction, and agriculture. The plan is also to increase the number of skilled worker visas to more than double the current amount during this period, VisaGuide.World reports.
According to the country’s authorities, specified special workers can currently work in one of 12 fields, each with its limits. Most are under Type 1 status, allowing them to work in Japan for up to five years. Type 2 status can be achieved by passing appropriate examinations and meeting other qualifications.
As for type 2 workers, they can extend their status indefinitely, bring family members, and eventually apply for permanent residence. However, as of the end of November, there were only 29 specified skilled workers of type 2 in Japan.
Japan Government to Set Limits on Foreign Workers
To ensure that the employment of Japanese citizens remains intact, the government limits the number of foreign workers admitted over five years. By fiscal year 2023, the maximum total was 345,150.
Officials are now calculating labor shortages in each sector to set limits for the five years to fiscal 2028. Even with expected wage increases and productivity gains for Japanese workers, the overall shortage is projected to exceed 800,000.
An estimated 25,000 skilled foreign workers are needed to drive taxis, buses, and trucks for transport.
Over 2 Million Foreign Workers in Japan by October 2023
By the end of November 2023, about 200,000 foreign workers were living in Japan under special residence status.
While nearly 80 percent of the cap for fiscal 2019-2023 was reached for foreign workers in manufacturing, the accommodation sector had less than ten percent of its five-year cap used.
According to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, Japan has reached a new record in the number of foreign workers in the country. By the end of October 2023, the Japanese government revealed that a total of 2,048,675 foreigners were working in Japan, mainly in industries facing labor shortages.
Despite the high number of foreign workers in previous years, the over two million registered last year exceeded the 2021 figures by 12.4 percent.
Currently, international students who intend to work in office work in Japan after graduation are mandated to obtain a visa under the category of engineer or specialist in the humanities or international services.