Labor Shortages and the Shift in Foreign Worker Policies in Japan

Focusing on the Specified Skilled Worker System and the Development and Employment System

Abstract

Since the mid-2010s, the Japanese government has sought to address labor shortages by promoting the employment of foreign workers in Japan. Through various systemic reforms, Japan has actively facilitated their acceptance, leading to the introduction of the Specified Skilled Workers and Foster Employment System. Currently in its fourth year, the Specified Skilled Worker System has led to an increase in the number of available positions, reorganization of job categories, and introduction of greater flexibility in the employment arrangement. It does not impose any limits on the number of employees that a single firm can hire, thereby enabling large-scale recruitment, particularly in the service industry.

The Development and Employment System, introduced as a successor to the Technical Intern Training Program, is closely linked to the Specified Skilled Worker System. These systems are expected to function as an integrated framework, extending the employment period for foreign workers from short- and mid-term to long-term, with a minimum duration of eight years.