Foreign Workers in Japan Mark Record High for 12 Years in Row
Tokyo, Jan. 31 (Jiji Press)--The number of foreign workers in Japan has hit a record high for the 12th straight year, reflecting severe labor shortages in the country, labor ministry data showed Friday.
Foreign workers totaled 2,302,587 as of the end of October last year, growing 12.4 pct from a year before.
By nationality, Vietnamese workers was the largest group with 570,708 people, up 10.1 pct, followed by Chinese workers who numbered 408,805, up 2.7 pct. Workers from Myanmar and Indonesia logged the fastest rates of increase, up 61.0 pct and 39.5 pct, respectively.
The number of manufacturing workers of foreign nationalities increased 8.3 pct to 598,314, making up 26.0 pct of all foreign workers, while that of service sector workers grew 10.5 pct to 354,418. Foreign workers in the medical and welfare sector increased most, up 28.1 pct.
Workers with visa statuses for specialized and technical fields made up the largest group of foreign workers as they numbered 718,812, up 20.6 pct.
(2025/01/31-00:49)
To read a full story, please click here to find out how to subscribe.
NATIONAL
-
01/31 00:49 Foreign Workers in Japan Mark Record High for 12 Years in Row - 01/30 22:12 Tokyo High Court Rules Denying Journalist Passport Illegal
- 01/30 21:20 (Update) Court Nixes Finance Ministry Decision against Disclosure
- 01/30 19:59 (Update) Dentsu Group Fined 300 M. Yen over Tokyo Games Bid-Rigging
- 01/30 19:13 Japan Mulling Police-SDF Hub for Cyber Defense
- 01/30 17:58 Court Nixes Finance Ministry Decision against Document Disclosure
- 01/30 17:15 Dentsu Group Fined 300 M. Yen over Tokyo Games Bid-Rigging
-
01/30 16:24 Sea Turtle Nesting Declines on Southwestern Japan Island - 01/30 15:47 Japan to Collaborate with Other Countries over DeepSeek Issue
- 01/30 13:51 Japan MOF Raises Economic View for Hokkaido
- 01/30 13:38 Japan Govt Suspends Ads on Fuji TV
- 01/30 12:08 Japan's Emperor, Empress Likely to Visit Mongolia in July
- 01/30 11:02 (Update) Japanese Lower House Panel Votes to Summon Ex-LDP Accountant
- 01/30 09:49 Japanese Lower House Panel Votes to Summon Ex-LDP Accountant
- 01/29 23:38 INTERVIEW: UNRWA to Be Incapable of Activities after Israeli Ban
- 01/29 22:49 Japan Hits Back at U.N. Panel over Imperial Law Review
- 01/29 22:25 Japan, Estonia Agree to Boost Cyberdefense Cooperation
- 01/29 22:19 Hakamata Seeks 217-M.-Yen State Compensation after Acquittal
- 01/29 22:07 (Update) Fuji TV Vice Chairman to Resign over Nakai Scandal
- 01/29 22:06 INTERVIEW: BOJ Missed Key Opportunity to Reverse Policy in 2014
- 01/29 21:43 Independent Body to Watch Japan Proactive Cyber Defense Actions
- 01/29 21:09 JR Tokai's "Doctor Yellow" Shinkansen Ends Final Inspection
- 01/29 20:14 Japan Begins Piling Work in Okinawa's Henoko for U.S. Base
- 01/29 19:38 Rescuers Struggling to Save Man from Road Collapse near Tokyo
- 01/29 18:06 Japan Average Pump Price Unchanged from Week Before
- 01/29 16:53 Lower House Committee to Vote to Summon Ex-LDP Faction Official
- 01/29 16:47 Fuji TV Vice Chairman to Resign over Nakai Scandal
- 01/29 16:17 Japan PM Adviser to Visit 5 Central Asian Countries
- 01/29 15:53 Japan Ministry Opens Door to Taboo Corporate Takeovers
- 01/29 14:38 BOJ Officials Saw Need to Watch U.S. Policies at Dec. Meeting
- 01/29 13:44 Heart Arrest Risks during Marathons Higher for Men over 60
- 01/29 13:30 Ishiba Vows to Foster Communication with China
- 01/29 12:19 (Update) Hoshoryu Promoted to Highest Sumo Rank of Yokozuna
- 01/29 11:53 BOJ Policymakers Divided over Additional Easing in Oct. 2014
- 01/29 10:28 Suicides in Japan Fall to 2nd-Lowest in 2024
- 01/29 09:19 Hoshoryu Promoted to Highest Sumo Rank of Yokozuna
- 01/29 07:49 Japanese Economist Takuro Morinaga Dies at 67
- 01/28 23:33 Weekly Corrects Story on Fuji Worker's Role in Nakai Scandal
- 01/28 22:39 Junglia Okinawa Theme Park to Open July 25
- 01/28 20:40 Death Sentence on KyoAni Arsonist Becomes Final
- 01/28 20:01 Japan Labor Leader Seeks Strong Wage Hikes at Smaller Biz
- 01/28 19:16 PFAS Levels Top Standard in 87 Pct of Those Tested in Japan Town
- 01/28 19:00 Tokyo Assembly LDP Accountant Fined 1 M. Yen over Slush Funds
- 01/28 18:17 Iwate Local Food Event Held in New York
- 01/28 18:13 Professor Koeda Tapped as BOJ Policy Board Member
- 01/28 17:37 Japan Mulling Numerical Standards for Dangerous Driving
- 01/28 16:14 Japan Services Producer Prices Up 2.9 Pct in 2024
- 01/28 16:04 Western Japan City Marks 50 Years of Free School Bag Project
- 01/28 15:55 Japan PM Ishiba Tones Down Stance on Dual Surname Debate
- 01/28 14:57 Ishiba Cautious about Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage
- 01/28 14:11 Japan to Propose Asuka-Fujiwara Sites for World Heritage
- 01/27 23:35 Tokyo Police Arrest Members of Big Sex Worker Scout Group
- 01/27 22:12 Keidanren Sets 200-T.-Yen Capital Spending Target for FY '40
- 01/27 22:05 (Update) Fuji TV Pres., Chairman Resign amid Turmoil over Nakai Scandal
- 01/27 21:16 Owner Feels Greater Expectations for Convenience Stores as Lifeline
- 01/27 20:21 Japan LDP OKs Bill to Disclose Donors of at Least 10 M. Yen
- 01/27 18:21 Ishin Demands April Removal of High School Aid Income Limit
- 01/27 18:19 Ishiba Defends Political Donations by Companies
- 01/27 17:20 Survey to Begin at Western Japan Site of 1942 Undersea Mine Accident
- 01/27 10:13 Ishiba Carefully Mulling Whether to Release War Anniversary Statement
- 01/26 23:08 Yamagata Governor Yoshimura Wins 5th Term
- 01/26 19:52 Hoshoryu Likely to Be Promoted to Highest Sumo Rank
- 01/26 15:48 INTERVIEW: Tomin First Adviser Ototake Keen to Use Social Media
- 01/26 14:45 Japan Customs Character Goods to Go on Sale
- 01/26 12:11 Man Arrested over Stabbing Spree in Japan's Nagano
- 01/26 00:01 Japan Not to Attend Nuclear Ban Treaty Meeting
- 01/25 19:26 BOJ May Break 0.5 Pct Policy Rate Barrier
- 01/25 00:08 Fuji TV Faces Management Turmoil after Fumble over Nakai Scandal
- 01/24 22:25 (Update) Man Sentenced to Death for Killing Japanese Boy in China
- 01/24 21:51 Japan to Keep NTT Law Alive
- 01/24 21:23 (Update 3) BOJ Decides to Hike Interest Rates to 17-Year High
- 01/24 20:47 JAL to Punish 5 Executives over Pilot Drinking Scandal
- 01/24 20:36 BOJ's Rate Hike Likely to Affect Households, Firms
- 01/24 19:42 Japan Vows Efforts to Balance Economic Revival, Fiscal Consolidation
- 01/24 19:02 China Court Holds 1st Hearing over Killing of Japanese Boy
- 01/24 18:30 (Update 2) BOJ Decides to Hike Interest Rates to 17-Yr High
- 01/24 18:16 Japan to Raise Public Pension Benefits by 1.9 Pct in FY 2025
- 01/24 17:54 Foreigners Entering Japan Hit Record 36.78 M. in 2024
- 01/24 17:45 Handover Ceremony for Stolen Buddha Statue Held in S. Korea
- 01/24 17:37 Flight Quota at Narita International Airport to Expand
- 01/24 16:50 Share of Univ. Students in Japan Who Got Job Offers Falls
- 01/24 15:39 Ishiba Vows Reiwa Version of Japanese Archipelago Remodeling
- 01/24 14:02 (Update) BOJ Decides to Raise Interest Rates
- 01/24 13:33 Japan Govt Submits Record 115.5-T.-Yen FY 2025 Budget
- 01/24 13:18 Japan Core Consumer Prices Rise 2.5 Pct in 2024
- 01/24 12:58 Miniatures Bring Hidden Worlds Alive at Tokyo Cultural Site
- 01/24 12:45 BOJ Decides to Raise Interest Rates
- 01/24 12:40 57 Months Sought for Ohtani's Ex-Interpreter
- 01/24 12:10 (Update) Japan Diet Convenes for 150-Day Ordinary Session
- 01/24 10:32 Japan Diet Convenes for 150-Day Ordinary Session
- 01/24 10:07 Japanese Journalist Ito's Documentary Nominated for Oscar
- 01/24 09:19 Japan to Tighten Screenings of Foreign Firms' Investment Plans
- 01/23 19:21 (Update) LDP Tokyo Assembly Members to Correct Funds Reports
- 01/23 13:10 Japan Incurs Trade Deficit of 5.3 T. Yen in 2024
