automotive transportation, railways, forestry, and the lumber industry. These new categories will be incorporated into the Type 1 specified skilled worker visa, which enables foreign workers to reside in Japan for up to five years without being accompanied by their families.
The decision to expand the Type 1 visa program is a part of a comprehensive migrant labor policy that was approved by the Cabinet on March 29. This policy outlines the goal of bringing in 820,000 overseas workers over the next five years, marking a significant increase compared to the preceding five years. The specified skilled worker program restricts foreign nationals to working in sectors where there is still a shortage of labor, following efforts to recruit local workers and enhance productivity within the industry.
By the end of the previous year, the number of individuals living in Japan under the specified skilled worker visa status had reached 208,462. Looking ahead, the government anticipates welcoming 173,000 individuals in industrial manufacturing, making it the largest group, followed by 139,000 in food and beverage manufacturing, 135,000 in nursing care, 80,000 in construction, and 78,000 in agriculture. The skilled worker visa program has seen growing numbers across 10 out of the 12 existing employment fields since its initiation in 2019, with building cleaning and the restaurant industry being the exceptions.