Japan studying simpler residency rules to attract tech workers

TOKYO, JAPAN — Japan is setting its sights on Southeast Asia and India to bolster its tech workforce, with the Cabinet Office spearheading a move to streamline the residency status system.
Nikkei Asia reported that the Cabinet Office emphasized the need to streamline the process for tech talents from these regions to establish careers in Japan.
“We have identified priority issues…and will accelerate and strengthen efforts to achieve the 100 trillion yen balance of direct investment in Japan,” said Tatsunori Ibayashi, deputy minister of the Cabinet Office, who attended the working group meeting.
The government task force has prioritized four key areas: expanding investment opportunities, recruiting skilled labor, fostering partnerships with foreign companies, and enhancing Japan’s overall business and living environment.
Japan’s digital nomad visa is already available for remote workers from 49 countries, including the United Kingdom and the United States.
Meanwhile, global talent services firm Morgan McKinley revealed that a severe shortage of skilled technology workers in Japan is hampering hiring and digital transformation efforts.
Its 2024 Salary Guide found 75% of tech hiring managers rated recruitment as “very” or “quite” competitive last year, while 31% cited a lack of qualified candidates as the top obstacle in 2024.
On the other hand, India’s exports of information technology (IT) and business process outsourcing (BPO) services surged over 12% to reach $193 billion in fiscal year 2023.