Specified Skilled Worker Industries (Eligible Fields) List [2026 Latest Edition]: Complete Guide to Job Categories, Exams, and Requirements Across All 17 Fields

Because Specified Skilled Worker (ii) has no upper limit on the period of stay, it enables hiring with long-term retention in mind. At present, only the nursing care field is excluded from (ii).

Evolution of Eligible Industries

April 2019 (Program Launch)

• Number of fields: 14
• Key change: Launch of the Specified Skilled Worker program

March 2023

• Number of fields: 12
• Key change: Three manufacturing fields consolidated into “Industrial Product Manufacturing”

June 2024

• Number of fields: 16
• Key change: Automobile transport, railway, forestry, and wood industry added

June 2026

• Number of fields: 17
• Key change: Linen supply added (Cabinet decision of 23 January 2026; status-of-residence applications possible from 1 June the same year)

Eligible industries have expanded with each program revision, and further reviews in line with labor supply and demand are expected to continue. Note that the Cabinet decision of 23 January 2026 also added logistics warehousing and resource circulation to the designated industrial fields, but acceptance has not yet begun in those two, so they are not included in the 17 fields above (Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, “Information by Field”; verified 28 August 2026).

List of 17 Specified Skilled Worker Eligible Industries (Fields) [2026 Edition]

Below is a summary of the 17 eligible fields and key information as of 1 June 2026 (Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, “Information by Field”; verified 28 August 2026).

1

• Field name: Nursing care
• Main eligible job categories: Physical care, bathing, meal, and toileting assistance, etc.
• Specified Skilled Worker (ii): No

2

• Field name: Building cleaning
• Main eligible job categories: Cleaning work inside buildings
• Specified Skilled Worker (ii): Yes

3

• Field name: Industrial product manufacturing
• Main eligible job categories: Casting, forging, machining, welding, etc. (multiple categories)
• Specified Skilled Worker (ii): Yes

4

• Field name: Construction
• Main eligible job categories: Formwork, plastering, scaffolding, piping, etc. (multiple categories)
• Specified Skilled Worker (ii): Yes

5

• Field name: Shipbuilding and marine industry
• Main eligible job categories: Welding, painting, finishing, machining, etc.
• Specified Skilled Worker (ii): Yes

6

• Field name: Automobile maintenance
• Main eligible job categories: Daily inspections, periodic inspection and maintenance, and overhaul maintenance
• Specified Skilled Worker (ii): Yes

7

• Field name: Aviation
• Main eligible job categories: Ground handling and aircraft maintenance
• Specified Skilled Worker (ii): Yes

8

• Field name: Accommodation
• Main eligible job categories: Front desk, customer service, in-facility maintenance, etc.
• Specified Skilled Worker (ii): Yes

9

• Field name: Agriculture
• Main eligible job categories: Crop farming in general and livestock farming in general
• Specified Skilled Worker (ii): Yes

10

• Field name: Fishery
• Main eligible job categories: Fishery (various types) and aquaculture
• Specified Skilled Worker (ii): Yes

11

• Field name: Food and beverage manufacturing
• Main eligible job categories: Food and beverage manufacturing and processing in general
• Specified Skilled Worker (ii): Yes

12

• Field name: Food service industry
• Main eligible job categories: Cooking, customer service, store management, etc.
• Specified Skilled Worker (ii): Yes

13

• Field name: Automobile transportation
• Main target occupations: Taxi, bus, and truck driving work
• Specified Skilled Worker (ii): Yes

14

• Field name: Railway
• Main target occupations: Track maintenance, electrical equipment maintenance, etc.
• Specified Skilled Worker (ii): Yes

15

• Field name: Forestry
• Main target occupations: Silviculture, logging, forestry machinery operation, etc.
• Specified Skilled Worker (ii): Yes

16

• Field name: Wood industry
• Main target occupations: Wood processing and manufacturing
• Specified Skilled Worker (ii): Yes

17

• Field name: Linen supply
• Main target occupations: Intake, sorting, washing, drying, finishing, inspection, bundling, and shipping of linens
• Specified Skilled Worker (ii): No

Key point: The fields not covered by Specified Skilled Worker (ii) are nursing care and linen supply (Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, “Linen Supply Field”; verified 28 August 2026). For international talent seeking long-term employment in nursing care, you need to consider the “Nursing care” status of residence or career paths after Technical Intern Training.

For more detailed information on occupations and exam content in each field, also see Details on Specified Skilled Worker industries and occupations.

Acceptance status by Specified Skilled Worker field (2026)

Acceptance under Specified Skilled Worker varies widely by field. Fields with stronger acceptance track records tend to have more accumulated hiring know-how and make it easier to secure talent.

Acceptance is especially high in the following fields:

• Food and beverage manufacturing: Strong demand at food factories and processing facilities; acceptance ranks at the top among all fields
• Nursing care: Acceptance continues to grow steadily amid severe labor shortages in an aging society
• Construction: Many skill categories by worksite type; use is expanding across diverse occupations
• Agriculture: Seasonal variation exists, but it is one of the few fields where dispatch of Specified Skilled Worker foreign nationals is permitted

By contrast, aviation, accommodation, and fishery have relatively fewer acceptance cases, but there is still ample room to use the program if you find talent who can meet field-specific requirements.

Automobile transportation, railway, forestry, and wood industry—newly established in 2024—are still building their acceptance track records. Even so, the institutional framework is already in place, so companies struggling with labor shortages have a chance to prepare now.

Guide to major industries with frequent hiring inquiries

All 17 fields are eligible, but here we explain in more detail the fields where companies most often seek hiring advice.

Nursing care field

Nursing care is one of the Specified Skilled Worker fields where acceptance has progressed furthest (the breakdown of foreign workers by industry can be checked in the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare’s “Notification Status of Employment of Foreign Nationals”; verified 28 August 2026). Physical care and related duties are covered, but work in home-visit services (such as home-visit nursing care) is not permitted. This point is easy to overlook, so take care.

Hiring requirements include passing a skills exam (Nursing Care Skills Evaluation Test) and a Japanese language exam (equivalent to N4), plus the “Nursing Care Japanese Language Evaluation Test.” Needing to pass all three exams sets this field apart from others and is an important checkpoint when building a hiring schedule.

Nursing care is also outside the scope of Specified Skilled Worker (ii), so if you are planning for long-term employment, it is safer to build a hiring plan that contemplates career progression to the “Nursing care” status of residence.

Construction field

In construction, separate certification of a “Construction Specified Skilled Worker Acceptance Plan” by the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism is required, so procedures are more complex than in other fields. There are multiple exam categories, including formwork, plastering, scaffolding, and rebar work, and Specified Skilled Worker foreign nationals are also required to register with the Construction Career Up System (CCUS).

Because construction has many skill categories, it is important to find candidates who have passed the exam for the work types your company needs. You cannot hire talent whose category does not match, so confirm this in advance.

Industrial product manufacturing

This is a large industry created when the 2023 system revision merged three fields—“Materials industry,” “Industrial machinery manufacturing,” and “Electric and electronic information-related industry.” It covers diverse processes such as casting, forging, machining, welding, and electronic component mounting, and the number of exam categories is among the highest of all fields.

In manufacturing, factory work may span multiple exam categories. Confirm which category your production processes fall under and hire candidates who have passed that category.

Food and beverage manufacturing / Food service

These two fields have high acceptance. Food and beverage manufacturing covers processing and production at factories, while food service covers cooking and customer service at restaurants and other eating establishments.

One point to watch: convenience stores are outside the scope of food service. Convenience store duties are not included in the food service exam categories, so Specified Skilled Worker cannot be used to hire for convenience store locations. Even for food-adjacent business models, carefully confirm the industry definition.

Automobile transportation (newly established in 2024)

This new field covers taxi, bus, and truck driving work. Passenger transport requires a Class 2 driver’s license, and large freight transport requires a large vehicle license, so you need to build license acquisition lead time into the hiring schedule.

Chronic driver shortages are a challenge in logistics, and more companies are using Specified Skilled Worker to accept experienced workers from overseas. Cases are still limited in this field, so moving early can help you differentiate from competitors.

Agriculture field

Agriculture is one of the few Specified Skilled Worker fields that allow acceptance in a dispatch (temporary staffing) format (agriculture and fishery only). For farmers and agricultural corporations that want to secure talent intensively during peak seasons, Specified Skilled Worker is a strong option.

There are two categories—crop farming (crop cultivation, vegetables, fruit trees, etc.) and livestock farming (livestock rearing and management, etc.)—each with a corresponding skills exam.

Exam types and eligibility requirements

In principle, obtaining Specified Skilled Worker (i) requires passing two types of exams.

Industry-specific skills exams

These exams are administered by the competent ministries and industry associations for each field; content and exam categories differ by field. More fields now allow overseas testing; check exam schedules and venues on each administering body’s website. Many exams are held multiple times a year, but frequency varies by field.

Japanese language exams

Proficiency is demonstrated by either of the following:

• Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) N4 or higher
• Japan Foundation Test for Basic Japanese (JFT-Basic) A2 or higher

For nursing care only, candidates must also pass the “Nursing Care Japanese Language Evaluation Test” in addition to one of the two exams above.

Special provisions for those who completed Technical Intern Training (ii)

International talent who have successfully completed Technical Intern Training (ii) are exempt from the skills and Japanese language exams when transferring to a related Specified Skilled Worker field. If you already have foreign workers employed as technical intern trainees, actively consider switching them to Specified Skilled Worker. Exam exemptions often make the process smoother.

Frequently asked questions

Q. Are convenience stores and supermarkets eligible industries for Specified Skilled Worker?

Convenience stores and supermarkets are currently outside the scope of Specified Skilled Worker. Convenience stores are not included in the definition of food service, and the same applies to supermarkets. Factory operations under food and beverage manufacturing may be eligible, but hiring store staff solely for sales is not permitted.

Q. What if the same company operates multiple industries?

Specified Skilled Worker foreign nationals may only perform work in the field tied to their status of residence. Even if a company handles both construction and food service, a Specified Skilled Worker foreign national in construction cannot be assigned to food service duties. When work spans multiple fields, you must hire separately people who hold the status of residence corresponding to each field.

Q. Can a Specified Skilled Worker foreign national move to a different industry after hiring?

The Specified Skilled Worker status of residence is tied to a specific field and industry. Job changes are possible at the individual’s own will, but the new employer must be in the same field. Moving to a different field requires an application to change the status of residence. As the hiring side, it is safer to confirm that post-transfer duties remain within the same field.

Q. Can we start hiring right away in the new fields added in 2024?

The four fields of automobile transportation, railway, forestry, and wood industry were added to the system in June 2024. Accepting organizations, support frameworks, and exam structures are already in place, so you can begin hiring. However, field-specific requirements apply—for example, obtaining the necessary driver’s license in automobile transportation. Confirm these in advance before you proceed.

Q. Could Specified Skilled Worker industry requirements change in the future?

The government periodically reviews the industries covered by Specified Skilled Worker. Fields may be added or consolidated in the future depending on labor market conditions. The most reliable source for the latest information is the official website of the Immigration Services Agency of Japan.

How to confirm industry eligibility and proceed with hiring

To use Specified Skilled Worker, the first step is to confirm whether your company’s work falls under a target field’s “occupation (work category).” Even if the field name matches, specific duties may still be out of scope. Proceeding on assumptions can lead to discovering later that requirements are not met, so it is advisable to check with a specialist early.

The overall hiring process is explained in detail in The flow of hiring foreign nationals; the main Specified Skilled Worker steps are as follows.

1. Confirm industry and occupation: Verify that your company’s work falls under a target field occupation
2. Prepare acceptance requirements: Ensure employment contract compliance and prepare a support plan
3. Select and interview candidates: Match with skills exam passers or those who completed Technical Intern Training (ii)
4. Apply for status of residence: File with the Immigration Services Agency of Japan (typically 1–3 months)
5. Start employment and implement support: Carry out support-plan measures such as life orientation

Accepting organizations for Specified Skilled Worker (i) are required to prepare and implement a support plan. If in-house handling is difficult, you may outsource to a Registered Support Organization. YourBright’s foreign talent placement service provides end-to-end support—from confirming industry-specific requirements and candidate matching to status of residence application support and post-hire support plan implementation.

Implementing the support plan may be outsourced at your option, but companies new to acceptance work in particular often find procedures smoother with specialist help. From a cost-effectiveness standpoint, using a Registered Support Organization is also effective in preventing early procedural mistakes.

Summary

As of 1 June 2026, the Specified Skilled Worker program covers 17 fields. A wide range of industries—including nursing care, construction, manufacturing, food, and transportation—are eligible, significantly expanding the scope for accepting job-ready international talent.

Here are the key points of this article.

• 17 eligible fields: nursing care, building cleaning, linen supply, industrial product manufacturing, construction, shipbuilding and marine equipment, automobile maintenance, aviation, accommodation, agriculture, fishery, food and beverage manufacturing, food service, automobile transportation, railway, forestry, and wood industry
• Specified Skilled Worker (ii): available in 15 fields excluding nursing care and linen supply (no upper limit on period of stay; family accompaniment permitted)
• Hiring requirements: field-specific skills test + Japanese language test (N4 or higher). Those who have completed Technical Intern Training (ii) are exempt from the tests
• Hiring timeline: status of residence applications typically take 1–3 months. Early planning is essential
• Support plan: mandatory for organizations accepting Specified Skilled Worker (i). Can be outsourced to a Registered Support Organization

From confirming whether your industry is eligible to organizing hiring requirements, if you have any questions about using the Specified Skilled Worker program, please feel free to contact us. As a Registered Support Organization (registration number: 19-登-000992), YourBright provides end-to-end support—from hiring plan development and status of residence applications to post-hire living support.

For phone consultations, please call 03-6908-6143 (hours: 9:00–18:00).

Disqualification and suspension conditions accepting organizations should know

This is an important point that remains valid, previously noted only in the older 14-field article. If an accepting organization has involuntarily terminated workers in the same type of work within the past year, it cannot newly hire Specified Skilled Worker foreign nationals for one year—including those already employed. This is a separate acceptance suspension rule from the expansion of fields (currently 16), so please review the circumstances of any terminations in the same type of work over the past year before planning hires. For older “14 industries” lists and headcount projections as of 2021, treat the 16-field table on this page as authoritative.

Also review the 2027 system transition

The institutional design of eligible fields is also a key issue under the Employment for Skill Development Program, which takes effect in 2027. We have organized a field-by-field transition overview based on primary sources on our Employment for Skill Development Program special page.