(Source: Summary of the Notification Status of Foreign Employment, as of the end of October 2025)

According to the “Summary of the Notification Status of Foreign Employment (as of the end of October 2025)” published by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, the number of foreign workers employed in Japan continues to increase across all categories, both by nationality and by status of residence.

This article outlines the key figures.

Number of Foreign Workers by Nationality

By nationality, Vietnam has the largest number of foreign workers, with 605,906 people, accounting for 23.6% of the total. In other words, approximately one in four foreign workers in Japan is Vietnamese.

This is followed by China with 431,949 people (16.8%), and the Philippines with 260,869 people (10.1%).

Together, these three countries account for approximately half of all foreign workers in Japan.

Number of Foreign Workers by Status of Residence

When viewed by status of residence, the following categories make up the majority of foreign employment:

Professional and Technical Statuses of Residence

865,588 people (an increase of 146,776 year-on-year, +20.4%)

This category includes statuses such as Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services and shows a significant increase.

Status of Residence Based on Personal Status

645,590 people (an increase of 16,473 year-on-year, +2.6%)

This includes permanent residents and spouses of Japanese nationals, and is characterized by relatively stable employment.

Technical Intern Training

499,394 people (an increase of 28,669 year-on-year, +6.1%)

Foreign workers under this status continue to be employed across a wide range of industries.

Permission to Engage in Activity Other Than That Permitted

449,324 people (an increase of 51,157 year-on-year, +12.8%)

This category mainly consists of part-time work by international students and continues to grow.

Designated Activities

111,074 people (an increase of 25,388 year-on-year, +29.6%)

Although smaller in number, this category shows the highest growth rate.

These figures are based on notifications submitted by employers to Hello Work and reflect the actual situation of foreign employment in Japan as of the end of October 2025.

In addition, as the April school enrollment and employment start season approaches, applications for status of residence with the Immigration Services Agency of Japan are currently at their busiest time of the year.

In particular, applications for the status of residence “Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services” tend to concentrate during this period. If you are planning to apply, early preparation and submission are strongly recommended.

Our office provides consultations on various status of residence applications, including Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services.

The first consultation (60 minutes) is free of charge.

Please feel free to contact us.