Japan plans to set the number of foreign workers accepted under its main labor migration programs at about 1.23 million through fiscal 2028, under a sweeping overhaul aimed at easing labor shortages.
The proposed figure, presented at an expert panel meeting on Tuesday, combines the existing Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) Type 1 program with a new residence status known as “Employment for Skill Development” (ESD), which will replace the Technical Intern Training Program in 2027.
Under the plan, the number of people allowed to be under the SSW Type 1 visa specifically would be capped at 805,700 workers, down from the current 820,000 introduced in March last year, while the new training-based status would be newly capped at 426,200 to make a combined total of 1.23 million.