Japan Facing Skilled Worker Shortages in 2023 – Job Opportunity for You?

This 2023 is turning out to be a year of skilled shortages across multiple countries and every new month i have to write so many news and job listing articles about skill shortages in European, American, Western countries but this time its Japan calling out skilled workers to work in its 11 industries.

You will be blown away by knowing this research that by the end of 2040 Japan is expected to face over 11 million skilled worker shortages due to very steep birth rate in Japan (Ref Japantimes). This is why the prime minister of Japan ‘Kishida’ took serious emergency measures to train their Japanese people to make them highly skilled workers whereas due to aging population of Japan this shortage of skilled workers is already impacting transportation, construction and healthcare sector of Japan.

So this big news came out after a meeting conducted by prime minister of Japan ‘Fumio Kishida’ in his office on 9 June 2023 with an agenda to expand the scope of skilled worker immigration policy of Japan by allowing more foreign skilled workers to find employment in 11 kinds of industries in Japan which previously was only allowed for two industries; ship building and construction (Ref WSJ).

This revised immigration policy of Japan is actually called ‘blue color skilled worker visa’ which will be the first step for foreigners to apply for Japanese permanent residency.

Previously in Japan skilled workers in construction of ship making industry were allowed to receive specified skilled worker type 1 visas that were only valid for 5 years (Non-renewable) but now with the inception of this revised policy you will be able to apply for ‘Japanese skilled worker type 2 visa’ to find employment in 11 industries of Japan including fisheries, agriculture, hospitality & vice versa.

You will also be able to bring in your family to Japan on this second skilled worker visa and with that you can also consider to apply for permanent residence of Japan whereas you will also be able to renew this second type of Japanese skilled worker visa.