Japan is the Leading Market for Vietnam's Labor Export

 In recent years, the number of Vietnamese workers going to Japan has accounted for 50% of the total number of Vietnamese workers going abroad each year.

According to the Department of Overseas Labor Management (Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs), the number of Vietnamese workers going to Japan in the past five years is as follows: In 2018, there were 68,737 workers; in 2019, 82,703; in 2020, 38,891; in 2021, 19,510; and in 2022, 67,295. In 2023, the number of Vietnamese workers in Japan reached nearly 80,000, the highest number ever recorded.

The National Institute of Population and Social Security Research of Japan forecasts that Japan's population will decrease by nearly a third by 2070, dropping to around 86.9 million people, with those aged 65 and older accounting for 40% of the population.

A major concern is that while the elderly population is increasing, the birth rate is declining. In 2022, Japan's total fertility rate (TFR), which indicates the average number of children born to a woman over her lifetime, was 1.26. With deaths exceeding births for the past decade, Japan’s population has been decreasing for 14 consecutive years.

Labor shortages are a serious issue in Japan, particularly in labor-intensive sectors such as nursing care and construction. Meanwhile, organizations like the Japan Taxi Rental Association and the Nihon Bus Association are actively recruiting foreign workers.

In recent years, Vietnamese workers have made up 50% of the total number of Vietnamese workers going abroad annually. In 2023, Vietnam surpassed China to become the largest foreign labor group in Japan, with 518,364 workers, marking a 63.6% increase over the past five years.

According to Minister of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs, Đào Ngọc Dung, there are currently 350,000 Vietnamese workers in Japan. Vietnam is also the leading country among the 15 nations sending trainees and workers to Japan. Currently, there are 220,000 technical interns in Japan, including a non-profit program by IM Japan, which has received over 9,000 people.

In 2023, the Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs signed cooperation agreements with several Japanese provinces, including Chiba, Saitama, Gunma, Kanagawa, and Nagano.

Currently, Vietnam and Japan are jointly implementing the “Employment Information Connection Support Project” to assist Vietnamese workers in finding suitable jobs abroad according to their needs and aspirations. The project also supports workers returning to Vietnam by providing comprehensive information on domestic job opportunities through recruitment from businesses and helps service companies better access workers in need of employment.

According to data from Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare published on January 26, 2024, the number of foreign workers in Japan is currently 2,048,000. Among them, Vietnamese workers make up the largest group, with 518,346 individuals, accounting for 25.3%.

Summary:
Japan has become the top destination for Vietnam Manpower, with over 518,000 Vietnamese workers in Japan in 2023, making up 50% of Vietnam's total annual overseas workforce. Japan’s aging population and labor shortages have led to an increasing demand for foreign workers, with Vietnam Manpower emerging as the largest source country, surpassing China. The Vietnamese government is actively collaborating with Japan to improve employment opportunities for Vietnamese workers both abroad and upon their return to Vietnam.