Foreign Workers in Japan—On Thursday, Tokyo-based public think tanks stated that Japan will require four times as many foreign employees by 2040 to maintain the government’s projected growth trajectory.
The findings show that Japan relies more on migrant labor to make up for a declining population. At the same time, the country’s capacity to recruit international talent has been called into doubt by harsh COVID-19 border controls that have blocked out students and workers from entering the nation.
According to a bullish “high-growth” scenario the government has set out in its long-term projection, Japan must increase the number of foreign workers in Japan to 6.74 million by 2040, according to think tanks, including a research arm of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) affiliated with the foreign ministry.
Nearly three times as many foreign workers would be employed in the United States than the current 1.72 million, or 2.5 percent of the workforce.
At a symposium on Thursday, JICA’s president Shinichi Kitaoka urged the country to consider accepting foreign employees with greater urgency, as the competition for workforce will expand in the future with countries like China.
“We must take steps to make Japan more attractive to foreign employees in the long term.”
Over the next two decades, the study predicts that Japan will lose more than 10% of its domestic workforce.
After peaking in 2008, the country’s population decreased due to a low birth rate to roughly 125 million. It is becoming increasingly difficult for the working-age population to grow.
Investing in automation technologies was also taken into account in this analysis, with an assumption that the stock of capital would expand at a rate of 1 percent annually. To fulfill its growth target, Japan will require 21 million foreign workers by 2040, which a researcher at the symposium described as “practically an impossibility.”
In the third-largest economy in the world, where many people prize racial purity, immigration has long been taboo.
A lack of blue-collar jobs has pushed the government to develop new visa categories as pressure mounts to open the borders. The more you read, the better.
Vietnam and China make up the majority of Japan’s foreign workforce. Think tanks predicted that the number of immigrants from low-income countries like Cambodia and Myanmar would climb quickly in the next two decades.
Migrant labor will always be in short supply under the existing immigration system, according to a report from the Migration Policy Institute (MPI).
Concerns have been voiced that Japan’s reputation as a desirable location for foreign talent may suffer due to the coronavirus’s severe border closures.
When this trend continues, Japan might become a ghost town, with few immigrants and an unwelcoming environment for visitors. This would spell disaster for the country, according to Kitaoka.
How Foreign Workers In Japan Find Jobs
In 2022, if you’re interested in working in Japan, there is no better time than now. Changes in visa and immigration laws by the Japanese government have made it easier for foreign workers to come to Japan. Here’s everything you need to know about getting a job in Japan while you’re planning your trip to the country.
Finding a job or obtaining a long-term residency permit for many foreign employees was difficult before April 2019, when tight immigration policies and foreign labor controls were eased. However, it is currently being sought after by the Japanese government to alleviate the load of an elderly population and dwindling domestic workforce.
In addition, as attention turns to Tokyo for the 2020 Olympics, several businesses are considering recruiting new personnel to portray their “English” face. The business world is only one of many fields becoming more welcoming to outsiders. New immigration rules are expected to result in an inflow of workers, most of whom will work in the fields of nursing and construction.
Before you leave home, here are a few things to consider, whether you already know what kind of career you want or are just starting.
Determine what type of work you’d like to do before starting new employment. A wide range of opportunities may not be available in the countries of origin of foreign workers, but in Japan, a diverse range of sectors and marketplaces thrive. It’s important to remember that getting a position in the business as a professional sometimes necessitates prior work experience or specialized training.
This is a critical factor to consider, especially for job seekers from other countries. Foreigners make up a small percentage of the workforce (less than 2% by most estimates); thus, you may expect a workplace with high standards.
Maintaining a healthy work-life balance can be challenging. Work is done with the company as a whole rather than just one person’s job in mind in Japan because teamwork and a group spirit are valued over individualism. Workers put in hard hours to ensure the company is taken care of. After a long day of work, you may be expected to join your coworkers for cocktails, karaoke, or some other form of evening entertainment.
Politeness and respect are highly prized qualities that contribute to a more formal work environment in the corporate world. Foreigners may also be irritated by ambiguous directions and oblique communication approaches. Even if the Japanese process to work is careful and methodical, it can also be slow to move and even slower to accept change.
Japanese language abilities should be evaluated regardless of the job you’re considering. When applying for high-level positions, you’ll need to demonstrate your proficiency in the language. The JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) is an excellent place to start (Japanese-Language Proficiency Test). The JLPT has five levels, with N1 being the most difficult. It would be best to be confident in your language skills before applying for many jobs requiring an N2 certification.
What if you don’t speak any Japanese? That’s fine! There are positions available that do not necessitate fluency in a foreign language. Just keep in mind that you will be surrounded by Japanese all the time when you are there. Shopping, meeting new people, getting medical care, and getting about all come with the risk of running into a language barrier.
Most schools and programs require a four-year college degree to become a full-time teacher. Some employers may also need a TEFL or TESOL certification, so keep an eye out for those inquiries as well. If you’re interested in getting certified quickly, online and classroom options are available.
Even if you don’t want to be a teacher, many job seekers in Japan suggest that you do so because the work is straightforward and low-pressure. With better language abilities, you can begin networking and searching for new opportunities. Changing employment is easier because you already have a work visa.
Before you arrive, be sure your company has completed all the necessary steps to get you a visa! Once you’ve arrived in the country, securing one will be a significant challenge.
Make a strong impression with your resume while applying for a job at a Japanese company. Make a concentrated effort to connect with a few companies and focus your CV on the strengths you can bring to each one.
This will help you notice by putting a more specific and eye-catching title on your resume file name. Title your resume “experienced-bilingual teacher-resume.pdf” or “talented professional-resume.pdf” to highlight your abilities.
Including a photo of yourself on your CV is standard procedure in Japan, as employers prefer to see a person behind the abilities they’re looking for. Alternatively, you can use a picture of yourself that looks like a passport or other official document.
