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The number of foreign nationals working in Japan amounted to around *** million people as of October 2025. The number of foreign workers has increased significantly compared to around *** million people in the previous year.

Foreign workers in Japan

The number of foreign workers in Japan has risen considerably within the last decade. Over * of workers were employed in Tokyo Prefecture, Japan’s capital and economic and financial center. In terms of the number of people employed, the *** industry continued to be the most important employer of foreign labor. The majority of foreign workers came from countries in ****, with workers from ** making up the largest share at around **** percent in 2025.

Population decline and severe labor shortages

Just a decade ago, the number of foreign workers was below *** million. That was less than *** percent of a population of over *** million. Today, amid its aging population and a shrinking labor force, Japan is facing severe labor shortages in some industries. A growing number of businesses are reliant on foreign labor, and the government has recently announced a number of policy amendments to attract more workers to Japan. This includes plans to expand the specified skilled workers program and to abolish and replace the controversial technical intern training program.