Why Filipino migrants are rethinking their futures in Japan

When Japan's embassy in the Philippines announced job openings for healthcare professionals in April, the announcement received a lot of attention from Filipinos. This drew the attention of recruiters as Japan still urgently needs foreign labor, even though Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is trying to make it harder for migrants to settle long-term.

The demand for care workers is especially urgent, with Japan expecting to need around 2.72 million care workers by the financial year 2040, compared to 568,000 in 2022, according to Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare estimates. Filipino workers, nurses, and other professionals who came to Japan seeking better opportunities are now facing a dilemma as the high living costs, weak yen, and uncertain immigration rules make it harder to imagine staying long-term in the country.

Job Galutan Andawey, a nurse from the Philippines working as a caregiver in Kanagawa prefecture, arrived in Japan through the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement, which includes career placement and language training programs for nurses and care workers. However, with his work visa nearing its end, Andawey is reconsidering his future in Japan, expressing his concerns about the high cost of living and stagnant salary.

Merrychris Urcales, a carer in Kagawa prefecture who arrived on a special skilled worker visa in 2024, said finding a job has been relatively easier in Japan due to the high demand for caregivers. However, the weak yen and rising costs make saving money difficult, and she is considering other countries that might offer better opportunities and higher income.

Alyssa Manalo, a PhD student at Hiroshima University who researches Filipino migration, states that concerns over the yen's declining value outweigh anxiety over immigration policy changes and anxiety about anti-foreigner sentiment among newer migrants. For foreign workers who have already adapted to the country, Japan's tighter immigration policies make long-term settlement seem harder to achieve.

Catherine Ogalesco, a licensed care worker who moved to Japan nine years ago, supports stricter language requirements but opposes the proposed income threshold increase for permanent residency applications. The policy changes have also unsettled students and white-collar workers who were hoping to pursue academic careers and full-time employment, respectively.

Language requirements are a significant source of anxiety for foreign professionals, as they fear not meeting the advanced-intermediate level of the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test. Despite the policy changes, anti-immigrant sentiment remains a growing concern among foreign residents in Japan.