A report by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development revealed that 40 percent of highly skilled foreign workers opt to stay in Japan, benefiting the country amid a labor shortage. The review also pointed out issues with Japan’s foreign technical intern program, which has faced criticism for potentially supporting companies in importing cheap labor and human rights violations.
The report highlighted that half of the 3 million foreigners in Japan in 2022 were permanent residents, while the other half consisted of temporary labor migrants, technical interns, and international students. It found that 40 percent of skilled labor migrants who arrived in Japan between 2011 and 2017 remained in the country five years later, emphasizing their contribution to the skilled labor supply.
The report acknowledged Japan’s high retention rate of international students and discussed the challenges they face in job hunting. It also raised concerns about the Technical Intern Training Program, stating that it has been primarily used to meet labor demand rather than transfer skills.
The government plans to improve rights protection for foreign workers, while retaining the support mechanism of the trainee program. This report underscores the importance of attracting and retaining global talent in Japan’s labor market.
© KYODO