Japan’s Specified Skilled Worker visa holders rise to record numbers
The number of foreign workers in the country on the visa reached a total 444,256 at the end of June, up 13.8% from six months earlier.
In Japan, the number of workers holding the Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) visa reached a record high of 444,256 by the end of June, according to recent data. This figure marks a 13.8% increase compared to the previous year's end of December total of 390,296, and a 108,060-person increase from June 2021's count of 336,196.
While the growth rate has slowed slightly on a six-month basis, the overall numbers continue to rise. The 13.8% jump from December alone is a decrease from the 16.1% and 18.2% increases in the prior six-month periods. Despite the deceleration, the SSW visa program remains a crucial solution for Japan as it seeks to address labor shortages across key industries through the utilization of overseas workers.
Written by urgent.news from Japan Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
