Description

Japan faces a challenging future under the pressure of an aging society. The population decline will likely create a severe workforce shortage. The problem facing Japan is a lack of workers rather than jobs. Population decline is likely to create severe pressure on the pension system. Japan’s number of foreign residents is far below that of other developed nations. The government has taken several measures to allow more foreigners to come and work in Japan by launching programs providing more opportunities for foreigners. The policy was selective, targeting types of foreign workers. This research aims to analyze the topic of migration, considering socio-economic changes and social constraints that may present an obstacle to more comprehensive legal reforms. Immigration would likely benefit Japan economically, given the labor shortage that faces this nation. On the other hand, there are concerns about the possible impact of many immigrants on Japanese society. While the law and policy have mainly focused on the employment of highly skilled professionals, the fact is that Japan also needs low-skilled workers. Maybe the crucial and the most challenging question is: If Japan is to accept more migrant workers, how wide should the gates be opened? While focusing on Japan, the research may also interest other countries facing similar problems. The issue of accepting migrant workers is a universal problem. While migrants may cause various problems for the receiving countries, it is often overlooked that those countries reap considerable benefits from migration. The real issue is not whether migrants should be allowed to enter but what categories of migrant workers should be accepted and in what numbers.