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Number of foreign workers at Japanese firms leaps over previous figures

September 13, 2008
By Ken Worsley


Back in March of 2007, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare reported that the number of foreigners working at Japanese firms had hit a record high of 222,929 at the end of May 2006. Looking at the growth in figures at the time, it seemed reasonable to assume that the number of foreigners working at Japanese companies would hit the 250,00 mark sometime in mid-2008.

However, according to a report released by the ministry last week, the number of foreigners working at Japanese companies as of June 30, 2008 has hit 338,813. This is obviously a massive increase on what was seen in 2006, and MHLW has an explanation for that. The survey method itself has changed a bit, as the Japanese government now requires all firms with foreign employees to report their name, nationality and visa status to the ministry whenever a hiring or dismissal takes place.

We will most likely see a further boost in these numbers, as compliance with the new rules does not take total effect until October 1. At any rate, the figure show that 44.2% of foreign workers at Japanese firms are from China (149,876), 20.9% are from Brazil (70,809), 12.4% are listed as “other” (42,046), 8.3% are from the Philippines (28,134), 7.1% are from the G8 plus Australia and New Zealand (24,210), and 3.9% are from Korea (13,106). In the case of Korea, 韓国 is the kanji used, which implies that special permanent residents are excluded from this survey. Finally, 3.1% of the workers hail from Peru (10,632).

Of the 338,813 foreign workers in Japan, 120,601, or 35.6%, are listed as being heads of household who hold contract worker or temporary worker status.

Filed Under Economic Reports, Foreigners, Labor and Wages 

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Comments

11 Responses to “Number of foreign workers at Japanese firms leaps over previous figures”

  1. Marc on September 14th, 2008 2:01 pm

    This is still a very low percentage of the overall workforce, and there is no reason given why Japan should change the way it does business to accommodate outsiders. If these people people want to make a life in Japan, they need to learn the language and make a commitment to the nation.

  2. Ken Worsley on September 14th, 2008 4:34 pm

    Marc,

    “there is no reason given why Japan should change the way it does business to accommodate outsiders.”

    Who said Japan should do such a thing?

    “If these people people want to make a life in Japan, they need to learn the language”

    I don’t think that’s under debate. Who told you that such people are not learning the language?

  3. Marc on September 14th, 2008 7:47 pm

    What I mean is, the English teachers and bankers who are shipped to Japan seem to never have any language skills or ability to function in the society, so they should not be considered immigrants.

  4. Ken Worsley on September 14th, 2008 9:58 pm

    Marc,

    Seriously, knock it off…You obviously have no idea why companies send people to Japan.

    If you’re trying to take the piss, that’s fine, but you’re failing pretty bad. If you actually believe what you write, you need help.

  5. WG on September 15th, 2008 11:10 am

    That’s a big jump. What percentage of the overall work force is that? I’m guessing about 0.5%???

  6. Ken Worsley on September 16th, 2008 12:12 am

    The total labor force was listed as 64,510,000 in June 2008, so foreigners make up about 0.53% of the labor force.

    From table 2 on this page: http://www.stat.go.jp/english/data/roudou/lngindex.htm

  7. Bobo on September 16th, 2008 6:05 am

    This is foreign-paid for PR. Most likely from India’s NASSCOM lobby.

    India pulled the same crap on the U.S. in 1998 with paid-for “news” (PR) stories of “worker shortages” - when the U.S. economy way booming without foreign workers. NASSCOM paid U.S. media to run these stories.

    That resulted in the American Competitiveness and Workforce Improvement Acts in 1998 and 2001 which flooded the U.S. with MILLIONS of foreign workers who carried off our wealth,

    Now look at the U.S. economy.

    Now that Americans have recognized the problem and shut the immigration doors, NASSCOM is doing the same thing to Japan. I can just about guarantee you NASSCOM paid someone at the Ministry to write that report.

    Foreign interests want Japan’s wealth. That is what this is all about.

  8. Matt on September 16th, 2008 6:21 am

    WG,

    That is one hell of a guess. Go buy a lottery ticket :D

  9. Ken Worsley on September 18th, 2008 12:19 am

    Bobo,

    This is foreign-paid for PR. Most likely from India’s NASSCOM lobby.

    No, it’s not, and no one is going to fall for your agenda. If you have proof, show it.

  10. Jeremy on September 28th, 2008 8:09 am

    Bobo- is a cheap pair of shoes, isn’t it? Sounds like a GWB clone,
    “our jobs are being shipped overseas”, please take that garbage elsewhere.

  11. gerard billones on June 25th, 2009 3:38 pm

    Japanese Government in the guise of training foreign workers for technological advancement is actually hiring them for only one reason, “cheap labor”! And more! Japanese workers 90% of them does not want to work on night shift, hence they employ foreign worker to fill in that vacuum. foreign workers are not paid on holidays and state imposed holidays, and more, they absolutely exploit foreign workers, the likes of Japanese descendants of Filipino origin, wherein they are supervised and controlled by licensed brokers under a ‘NO WORK, NO PAY’ work scheme. I agree to the statement of one chinese worker, “once you complain, you are told to go home”, in short you are gaged, and no rights as a worker. and more!, as a foreign worker, you must signed a renewable two (2) months provisionary contract, inhuman as it is as oppressive and subjective. My indispensable opinion, “brokers” enriched themselves at the expense of foreign workers. Believe me, this is unacceptable, because it only breeds hatred and discontentment! while history is repeating itself, Japanese have no remorse of their crimes in the second world war they created at their own likeness, whims, and caprices. What more can I say?, … too many. I challenge any high ranking official of Japanese government to “reason with me” there labor laws, provisions thereof are made just to enriched more of themselves. It insult my intelligence!

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