The Japanese government has indicated a policy direction that the acceptance cap for the "Specified Skilled Worker" status of residence should be gradually reduced over time in step with advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and automation.
At a regular press conference held on November 2, 2026, Kimi Onoda, Minister for Foreign Worker Policy, outlined the government's stance on the fundamental purpose and future operational direction of the Specified Skilled Worker visa system.
Prioritizing Domestic Workforce Securitization and Productivity Gains
Minister Onoda emphasized that the foundation of the Specified Skilled Worker system is "to accept foreign workers only when labor shortages persist even after thorough efforts to secure domestic workers, improve working conditions, and enhance productivity." She explained that endlessly expanding intake quotas simply to address immediate on-site labor shortages contradicts the system's original purpose.
Aiming to Reduce Quotas as AI and Automation Spread
During the conference, it was noted that as AI technology advances, tasks become automated, and working conditions for domestic Japanese workers improve, the cap on foreign worker acceptance should ideally shrink in line with changing times, rather than continuously expand.
In response to press inquiries regarding whether intake quotas might still be partially expanded in the future at industry request, Minister Onoda rejected any indiscriminate expansion policy. This reaffirmed that boosting domestic industrial productivity must take precedence as a prerequisite for addressing labor shortages.
Implications for Foreign Residents and Job Seekers
This announcement illustrates the Japanese government's long-term stance: addressing labor shortages through AI adoption, technological innovation, and improvements to the domestic employment environment, rather than relying solely on foreign labor inflows.
Consequently, foreign nationals planning to work in Japan under the Specified Skilled Worker visa or preparing to change their visa status locally should closely monitor changes in intake quotas across industry sectors and trends in automation. In certain sectors, acceptance limits are increasingly likely to be managed strictly based on technology adoption and domestic conditions, rather than automatically expanded.
Tools: Internet Finder
Source: 朝日新聞