Opening up to foreign workers may ultimately be Japan’s best hope for stemming a rapid population decline.
Photographer: Takaaki Iwabu/BloombergRecord 2 Million Foreign Workers Are Changing the Face of Japan
As a labor shortage worsens, companies procure help from overseas
Japan’s demographic struggles are forcing companies and communities to open up at an unprecedented rate.
Last year, the number of foreign workers hit a record 2.04 million, up 12.4% from 2022, according to labor ministry figures released late last month. That inflow is set to continue at a fast pace as Japan seeks more assembly line staff, construction workers, vegetable pickers and care-givers for the elderly.