What Is the Specified Skilled Worker Visa? Which Companies Should—and Shouldn’t—Hire

Introduction: Who This Article Is For

This article is for companies considering hiring foreign workers due to labor shortages.

It is intended for companies that:

• Do not have enough staff
• Are considering hiring foreign workers
• Have heard of the Specified Skilled Worker program

Conclusion

The Specified Skilled Worker program is not suitable for every company.

Introducing it simply because you are short-staffed may not lead to successful results.

What Is the Specified Skilled Worker Program?

The Specified Skilled Worker program allows foreign nationals with certain skills to work in industries facing serious labor shortages.

Common Misunderstandings

• Hiring foreign workers will immediately solve labor shortages
• Foreign workers can be hired more cheaply than Japanese workers
• Everything can be left to a recruitment agency

In practice, these assumptions are not always correct.

Companies That May Benefit from the Program

The program may be suitable for companies that:

• Have clearly defined job duties
• Have a basic training system
• Plan to develop employees over the long term

Companies That Should Consider It Carefully

Companies should be cautious if they:

• Only want to solve a short-term labor shortage
• Do not have a proper management system
• Plan to leave all operations to a recruitment agency

In these cases, the program may not work effectively.

Difference from the Technical Intern Training Program

Companies considering foreign workers should also compare the Specified Skilled Worker program with the Technical Intern Training Program.

The Technical Intern Training Program is scheduled to transition to the Employment for Skill Development Program in April 2027. Further details are explained below.

• Technical Intern Training: Focused on skill development
• Specified Skilled Worker: Focused on workers who can contribute immediately

The right choice depends on the company’s goals.

An Important Point

The Specified Skilled Worker program is not simply a hiring system. It is also a management system.

The results depend greatly on how workers are supported and managed after hiring.

Summary

The Specified Skilled Worker program should not be introduced simply because of a labor shortage.

Companies should first confirm that they have the right system to manage and support foreign workers.