The number of foreign workers in Japan reaches a record high
World
The number of foreign workers in Japan has reached a record high as the country struggles to address labor shortages. According to government data, as of October 2024, Japan’s foreign workforce stood at 2.3 million, an increase of 254,000 compared to the previous year.
This marks the largest annual increase since record-keeping began in 2008. It is also part of a consistent upward trend over the past decade—back in 2014, Japan had only 788,000 foreign workers.
According to the World Bank, Japan has the second-oldest population in the world, after Monaco. At the same time, the country’s strict immigration policies are exacerbating labor shortages.
Government data indicates that the three largest groups of foreign workers in Japan are Vietnamese, Chinese, and Filipinos. They are primarily employed in the manufacturing, hospitality (including tourism and restaurant businesses), and retail sectors.
About 20.4% of foreign workers are part of the government-funded "technical intern" program. Initially, this program was designed to provide participants from countries like China and Vietnam with specialized experience they could later apply in their home countries. However, international observers have labeled the system as a "backdoor" for foreign labor, arguing that Japan’s conservative government is reluctant to officially acknowledge migration as a solution to labor shortages.
According to the World Bank, Japan has the second-oldest population in the world, after Monaco. At the same time, the country’s strict immigration policies are exacerbating labor shortages.
Government data indicates that the three largest groups of foreign workers in Japan are Vietnamese, Chinese, and Filipinos. They are primarily employed in the manufacturing, hospitality (including tourism and restaurant businesses), and retail sectors.
About 20.4% of foreign workers are part of the government-funded "technical intern" program. Initially, this program was designed to provide participants from countries like China and Vietnam with specialized experience they could later apply in their home countries. However, international observers have labeled the system as a "backdoor" for foreign labor, arguing that Japan’s conservative government is reluctant to officially acknowledge migration as a solution to labor shortages.
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