The number of foreign residents in Japan continues to grow. According to projections by the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research, foreign nationals may comprise over 10% of the total population by 2070. Consequently, the presence of foreign residents in Japanese society is expected to increase significantly in the coming years. 

While the Japanese government has consistently maintained its stance against a formal “immigration policy,” it has gradually expanded its systems for accepting foreign workers to address severe labor shortages. This article outlines the characteristics and evolution of these programs, particularly within blue-collar sectors such as manufacturing, construction, agriculture, and caregiving. 

1. The Technical Intern Training Program (TITP)

The formal recruitment of foreign workers into Japan’s blue-collar sectors began in 1993 with the “Technical Intern Training” program. This system was originally established with the nominal goal of “international contribution through skill transfer”—intended to allow interns from developing countries to acquire skills and apply them to the economic development of their home nations. 

In practice, however, these interns served primarily to fill the labor gap in blue-collar industries, creating a widening discrepancy between the program’s official facade and its reality. Furthermore, under the TITP, the maximum duration of stay is five years, and workers are generally prohibited from changing employers. This lack of flexibility led to numerous cases of workers “absconding” (disappearing) due to poor treatment or working conditions, drawing significant criticism from international organizations. 

2. The Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) System

In 2019, the “Specified Skilled Worker” (SSW) system was introduced. This program targets sectors with critical labor shortages, such as caregiving and construction, by recruiting foreign workers who are “workforce-ready.” 

The creation of the SSW system represented a major turning point in Japan’s foreign labor policy. For the first time, the program’s stated purpose explicitly acknowledged the acceptance of foreign nationals as a “workforce for blue-collar sectors.” 

A key feature of this system is that it opens a pathway to long-term residency. The SSW is divided into two categories: “Type 1,” where the stay is generally limited to five years, and “Type 2,” which requires higher skill levels, has no upper limit on residency, and allows for bringing family members. Workers can transition from Type 1 to Type 2 by meeting specific criteria, such as passing advanced exams. Furthermore, the SSW system permits workers to change jobs within the same industrial field. 

3. The Employment for Skill Development System

Beginning in April 2027, the Technical Intern Training Program will be abolished and replaced by the new “Employment for Skill Development” system. This new program is specifically designed to “develop and secure” talent in sectors facing labor shortages. This marks a fundamental shift from the TITP, which prioritized “international contribution” as a facade while legally prohibiting the use of interns as a tool for labor supply adjustment. 

Unlike the previous system, the Employment for Skill Development program will allow workers to change employers at their own discretion after a restricted period of one to two years. While the initial stay is typically three years, the system is designed to facilitate a smoother transition into the “Specified Skilled Worker” status, thereby promoting mid-to-long-term employment. While bringing family members is initially prohibited—similar to the TITP—it becomes an option once a worker transitions to the SSW Type 2 status. 

This reform addresses the historical gap between the nominal “international contribution” of the TITP and the actual needs of the labor market. By establishing a clear path for securing long-term talent, Japan has signaled its goal to become a “country of choice” for foreign workers. Whether the “Employment for Skill Development” system succeeds in realizing this vision will depend on how the government and private enterprises implement and manage it in the future. 

 

(References) 

Immigration Services Agency of Japan, “Efforts to Accept Foreign Talent and Realize a Symbiotic Society” (Retrieved Dec 29, 2025). 

Immigration Services Agency of Japan, “Employment for Skill Development System Q&A” (Retrieved Dec 29, 2025).