According to a nationwide survey conducted by Nikkei, more than 60% of Japanese mayors are supportive of accepting foreign workers in their regions, against a backdrop of labor shortages. The trend is notably stronger in areas with high rates of population decline. Detailed coverage of these findings is featured in the latest issue of Nikkei Glocal.
Higher Inclination to Accept Foreigners in Regions Facing Population Decline
The survey results indicate that mayors from rapidly depopulating areas are more likely to adopt a proactive stance towards accepting foreigners. In Hokkaido, the positive response rate reaches 87%, with a national average of 63% expressing a desire to welcome foreign workers as a strategy against labor shortages.
Sector-specific Shifts in Acceptance Attitudes
Over the past six years, there has been a significant increase in the willingness to accept foreign labor, particularly in the healthcare and medical fields. All sectors recorded a notable rise to the 20-30% range in acceptance rates, with some industries exceeding 70% when combining ‘proactive acceptance’ and ‘moderate acceptance’ responses.
Number of Foreign Workers in Japan Exceeds 2 Million
The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare reported that as of October 2023, the number of foreign nationals working in Japan surpassed 2 million for the first time. The ‘Specified Skills’ category showed a significant growth, highlighting the increasing importance of foreign labor in the Japanese job market.
Growing Need for Educational Support
With the rise in foreign workers and their families, there is an escalating demand for Japanese language education and educational support. Although the government has expanded the fields eligible for family accompaniment under the ‘Specified Skills’ visa, there is an urgent need for better infrastructure to accommodate this growing population, marking a challenge for the future.