Japan Surpasses 2 Million Foreign Workers Amidst Labor Shortages

Government data released on Friday revealed that the count of foreign workers in Japan exceeded 2 million for the first time as of October 2023, addressing the nation’s ongoing labor shortages.

According to the Labour Ministry, the population of foreign workers reached a historic high of 2,048,675 by the end of October, marking a substantial increase of 225,950 or 12.4% from the previous year, as reported by the Xinhua news agency.

The number of workplaces actively employing foreign nationals also saw a rise of 6.7%, reaching a new peak of 318,775. This surge underscores the growing reliance of businesses on foreign labor to meet their workforce needs.

Breaking down the figures, the manufacturing sector boasted the highest count of foreign workers, closely followed by the service and retail industries. Notably, the construction, medical, and welfare sectors have contributed to the overall increase, approaching levels observed before the pandemic, according to a labor ministry official.

In terms of regional distribution, Tokyo emerged as the city with the largest foreign worker population, hosting 542,992 individuals. Aichi Prefecture in central Japan ranked second with 210,159, followed by Osaka Prefecture in the west, accommodating 146,384 foreign workers.