The Specified Skilled Worker status of residence was created to address severe labor shortages by accepting foreign nationals with a certain level of knowledge and experience.
Established as a new status of residence in April 2019, Specified Skilled Worker allows foreign nationals to work only in designated fields.
This article looks at how far acceptance under Specified Skilled Worker has progressed, covering the nationwide situation as well as shares by nationality and by field.

What Is the Nationwide Situation for the Specified Skilled Worker Program?

First, the number of foreign nationals residing in Japan with Specified Skilled Worker status stood at 8,769 as of the end of September 2020. As of the end of June 2019, the number of foreign nationals who had obtained Specified Skilled Worker status was 5,950, meaning the figure rose by only about 3,000 in a little under a year.
The impact of COVID-19 also meant that growth fell short of expectations. The Japanese government had originally planned to accept 40,000 foreign nationals under Specified Skilled Worker, but the current figure meets only about 10% of that target.
Looking across Japan, the Kanto region has a large number of Specified Skilled Worker holders in proportion to its population, while some regional areas have accepted comparable numbers as well. Even so, the main reason numbers fell short of the government’s plan is that sending countries had not yet put adequate systems in place.

Unlike the Technical Intern Training Program, which places supervising organizations between the government and the parties involved, the Specified Skilled Worker program was expected to reduce the steps to hiring by allowing direct employment between foreign nationals and employers. However, without sending organizations and accepting organizations (supervising organizations), responses in the countries sending foreign nationals with Specified Skilled Worker status did not go as hoped, and this is said to have delayed securing the numbers. In addition, delays in conducting skills exams and the limited number of exams in Japan and overseas have been insufficient factors relative to the numbers that needed to be accepted.

Share by Specified Industrial Field

Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan

Specified industrial fields are the 14 industries in which foreign nationals who have obtained Specified Skilled Worker status can work, including fields facing severe labor shortages such as food service, construction, agriculture, and nursing care. At present, food and beverage manufacturing, agriculture, and food service account for more than 60% of the share by specified industrial field. A major factor is that many foreign nationals transitioned from technical intern trainees to Specified Skilled Worker, which raised the share of those fields.

By contrast, fields such as building cleaning and accommodation have lower shares, partly because fewer countries conduct exams overseas. Differences in the number of exams by industry are also reflected in the shares.

Share by Nationality and Region

Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan

By country of origin, Vietnam accounts for nearly 60% of the total. Next come Indonesia, the Philippines, Myanmar, China, and others, with about 80% overall coming from Asia. This is because many transitioned from technical intern trainees to Specified Skilled Worker, resulting in a large share from Asia.

Conclusion

As more foreign nationals continue to transition from technical intern trainees to Specified Skilled Worker, Specified Skilled Worker numbers in fields such as nursing care, accommodation, and food service—where transition from technical intern trainees is not available—will also begin to increase.

At present, the number of foreign nationals accepted with Specified Skilled Worker status remains below the figures the government projected. Although the Japanese-language exams and field-specific skills exams required for Specified Skilled Worker are being conducted in Japan and overseas, the numbers fall short of what the government needs.

However, the framework for the Specified Skilled Worker program is beginning to take shape, so acceptance is expected to increase going forward in industries struggling with labor shortages. Why not consider hiring foreign nationals who have obtained Specified Skilled Worker status?