Einar H. Dyvik
Research expert covering Nordics and global data for society, economy, and politics
Labor shortage in Japan - statistics & facts
Self-checkout services and unmanned stores have been slowly spreading across Japan as businesses have turned to innovation to address the country鈥檚 chronic labor shortage. From the automated conveyor belt for freight between Tokyo and Nagoya to remotely operated avatar employees in convenience stores, the nation also explores unconventional options to counter the issue. Japan is a rapidly aging society, and its working-age population has been falling since 1995. The current labor shortage has been looming over the country since the 2010s, and workstyle reforms implemented in the last years have worsened the situation in some industries, such as construction and transportation.
