Japan Foreign Workers Increased to 2.3 Million in 2024

When the foreign workers who were hired, which was 2.3 million, Japan broke the record earlier this year in October 2024, the figure surpassed Japan’s employment figure. This unprecedented surge in Japan’s labor market is led by Vietnamese, Chinese, and Filipino workers.

Japan faces a serious staff shortage issue as the country holds the title of biggest aged population next to Monaco, according to the World Bank. Most foreign workers are Vietnamese, Chinese, and Filipino and they work in the manufacturing, hospitality, and retail sectors. Although criticized for possible abuse and discrimination, the country’s technical intern program remains a powerful entity and constitutes 20.4 percent of the foreign workforce.

The technical intern program embodies a new approach adopted by Japan in coping with labor market challenges, but critics contend that it became an unofficial means of allowing foreign labor in a country that has traditionally disfavored immigration. While the program was devised to offer participants specialized training, it has been experiencing continuing rumors about discriminatory practices and physical abuse.

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