Japan's Foreign Worker Population Hits Record 2.57 Million

TOKYO, Jan 30 (Bernama-Kyodo) -- The number of foreign workers in Japan reached a new high of over 2.57 million as of the end of last October, shattering the record for the 13th consecutive year, as the nation deals with a labour crunch, Kyodo News reported, citing government data. 

The total of 2,571,037 marks an 11.7 per cent rise from the previous year, with Vietnamese workers accounting for the largest proportion.

The data comes as campaigning for the Feb 8 House of Representatives election draws attention to how to better integrate foreign residents, such as toughening rules for accepting them and promoting social cohesion.

The number of workplaces employing foreign nationals also hit a record high at 371,215, up 8.5 per cent from a year earlier, with small businesses with fewer than 30 employees accounting for 63.1 per cent of the total, according to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.

By industry, manufacturing led other sectors with 635,075 foreign employees, accounting for 24.7 per cent of them, followed by the services sector excluding food and drink services at 391,946.

The medical and welfare sector, including long-term care, saw the biggest growth of 25.6 per cent from the previous year.

Holders of the Specified Skilled Worker visa, which allows people from overseas to work in labour-strapped industries, rose 38.3 per cent to 286,225.

By nationality, Vietnamese workers made up the largest group at 605,906, or 23.6 per cent of the total, followed by Chinese at 431,949, or 16.8 per cent, and Filipinos at 260,869, or 10.1 per cent.

-- BERNAMA-KYODO