What is the quota for the number of specified skilled workers can be accepted? Are there limits on the number of people in the construction industry?

Confirm the number of specified skilled workers that can be accepted (number limit)

Specified Skills of residence was established in order to alleviate Japan's serious labor shortage and is given to "foreign nationals who have specialized knowledge and skills, a high level of Japanese language proficiency, and can work as immediate assets."

There is no limit to the number of specified skilled workers who can be accepted.
However, the expected number of people to be accepted across Japan over the five-year period from 2024 has been set, at 820,000 across all industries.

Although there is no limit on the number of people who can be accepted with Specified Skills, an upper limit has been set based on the amount of labor that is needed to meet the estimated labor shortage.
The expected number of people accepted under Specified Skilled Worker (i) (maximum number of people accepted) by industry is as follows:

• Nursing care: 135,000 people
• Building cleaning: 37,000 people
• Industrial product manufacturing industry (formerly: Basic materials, industrial machinery, and electrical, electronic, and information-related manufacturing industries): 173,300 people
• Construction: 80,000 people
• Shipbuilding and marine industry: 36,000 people
• Automobile maintenance: 10,000 people
• Aviation: 4,400 people
• Accommodation: 23,000 people
• Agriculture: 78,000
• Fisheries: 17,000 people
• Food and beverage manufacturing industry: 139,000 people
• Food service industry: 53,000 people
• Motor transport industry: 24,500 people
• Railway: 3,800 people
• Forestry: 1,000 people
• Timber industry: 5,000 people

*Reference: Resetting the expected number of people accepted under Specified Skills System (Cabinet decision, March 29, 2024)

In addition, in the nursing care and construction fields, there are limits on the number of people that each company can accept.
We will explain this in more detail later.

There is a similar status of residence to Specified Skills visa called "technical intern training," but the latter is a status of residence for the purpose of international contribution, in which one acquires skills in Japan and then uses them in one's home country.

Although they have in common the point of "accepting foreigners in companies," there is a limit to the number of people who can participate in technical training programs.
For more information on the differences between Specified Skills and technical training, please see this column.
10 differences between Specified Skills and Technical Intern Training. Know the pros and cons before making your decision.

In the construction and Specified Skills care fields, there is a quota (limit on the number of people) for the number of people that can be accepted by each company or business.

In the construction and nursing care fields, there are quotas set for the number of people that each host institution can accept.
The number of people accepted is determined as follows:

• Construction sector: The number of Specified Skilled Worker (i) must not exceed the total number of full-time employees of the host organization (excluding foreign technical intern trainees and Specified Skilled Worker (i)).
• Nursing care sector: The number Specified Skilled Worker (i) that can be accepted at a business will be limited to the total number of full-time nursing care staff, including Japanese nationals, per business.

The term "Japanese nationals, etc." in the rules for the nursing care sector includes foreign nationals who have passed the National Examination for Certified Care Workers under the EPA, foreign nationals residing in Japan with a "care" residence status, and foreign nationals residing in Japan with a residence status based on their status or position.

Furthermore, the government gives the following three reasons for setting a cap for each receiving organization in the construction sector:

• Since the work location of construction technicians changes depending on the construction project, work management for each site is required.
• Remuneration for work may vary depending on the season and construction order situation.
• Particularly for foreigners, it is necessary to consider ensuring a proper working environment.

The following conditions are also imposed on accepting organizations (Specified Skills organizations, etc.):

• Preparation of an acceptance plan that clearly states the expected remuneration of foreign nationals, etc.
• Confirmation of plan implementation status through inspection, certification and on-site visits by the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
• Registration of accepting companies and Specified Skilled Worker (i) in Construction Career Up System
• Joining the company which carry out the business of hiring specified skilled workers (JAC)​

In order to have an acceptance plan certified, it is necessary to directly employ specified skilled workers, and their treatment must be the same as that of Japanese nationals performing the same work. There are several other conditions, as listed below.

• The receiving company must be licensed under Article 3 of the Construction Business Law.
• Registration of accepting companies and Specified Skilled Worker (i) in Construction Career Up System
• Joining the company which carry out the business of hiring specified skilled workers (JAC) and complying with the code of conduct established by said organization
• The remuneration of specified skilled workers is equal to or higher than that of Japanese nationals with the same skills, stable wage payments, and salary increases according to the skill proficiency
• Prior written explanation of important contractual matters such as wages (in a language that foreigners can fully understand)
• After acceptance, Specified Skilled Worker (i) must take courses or training designated by the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.
• Acceptance of on-site guidance by the government or appropriate employment supervision organizations regarding the proper implementation of acceptance plans, etc.

*Quoted from: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Acceptance of foreign human resources in the construction sector

The following column also provides detailed information on how to employ foreigners in the construction industry.
Explaining how to accept foreign workers in the construction industry and the preparations to do so!

Find out about the current situation regarding the number of specified skilled workers

There are no limits on the number of specified skilled workers can be accepted outside of the construction and nursing care sectors, but how many are currently being accepted?

For reference, here is the number of foreign nationals residing with Specified Skills (Specified Skilled Worker (i)) announced by the Immigration Services Agency.
*These figures are preliminary and based on data as of the end of December 2023, and may change in the future.

As can be seen from this table, the more severe the labor shortage is in an industry, the more people are accepted.

One reason for this is that the parts of the food and beverage manufacturing industry that can be managed by machines are still limited compared to other industries, so there is a high need to secure human resources.
The manufacturing sectors of basic materials, industrial machinery, and electrical, electronic, and information-related industries also require many manpower for factory work, so they accept more people than other sectors.

The construction industry is also facing a labor shortage.
Currently, efforts are being made to ensure that people can work safely in Japan, such as the "Declaration for the Safe and Secure Acceptance of specified skilled workers in the Construction Sector," and as a result, the number of specified skilled workers is increasing.

Additionally, the overwhelming majority of foreign residents with Specified Skilled Worker (i) are Vietnamese.
This is followed by Indonesians and Filipinos.
We've also got more information about the national characteristics of each country in this column, so be sure to check it out.
What is the Vietnamese national character? Introducing their personality and communication tips!
What is the Filipino national character? Introducing their personality and communication tips!
What is the Indonesian national character? Introducing their personality and communication tips!

In addition, the numbers are listed by prefecture, with Aichi Prefecture having the highest number of 17,632, followed by Osaka Prefecture with 13,275, Saitama Prefecture with 12,396, Chiba Prefecture with 12,293, and Tokyo with 11,360.
The number of accepted students tends to be higher in major cities than in regional cities.

Summary: There is no limit to the number of people accepted with Specified Skills. However, check the restrictions in the construction and nursing care fields!

Specified Skills is a new residence status established in 2019 to alleviate Japan's labor shortage, and unlike technical intern training, there is no limit on the number of people that can be accepted.

However, there is a limit set on the number of people that can be accepted, calculated based on a predicted labor shortage.
In addition, for Specified Skills such as construction and nursing care, there are limits on the number of people who can be accepted depending on the size of the receiving organization.

As of 2023, many specified skilled workers are already working in various regions and industries in Japan.
If you are a company considering hiring specified skilled workers in the construction industry, please feel free to contact JAC!
We also introduce specified skilled workers.

*This article was written based on information from February 2023.
*Added in May 2024