Full Breakdown
Japan Faces Shortage of Japanese Language Teachers Ahead of New Foreign Worker Program
By Drooid · · How we work
Shortage Highlights Ahead of Employment for Skill Development Launch
A government survey conducted by the Immigration Services Agency and the Ministry of Labor reveals that many organizations preparing to host foreign workers under Japan’s upcoming Employment for Skill Development (ESD) program lack sufficient Japanese language teachers. The ESD scheme, which replaces the Technical Intern Training program, will require incoming foreign nationals to achieve at least an A1 level on Japanese proficiency tests or complete a minimum of 100 hours of language instruction before beginning work.
Background & Context
The ESD program is slated to begin next April, marking a shift toward higher language standards for foreign labor. Under the new rules, employers and support organizations must ensure that trainees receive adequate language preparation, a requirement that has exposed a gap in the supply of qualified instructors.
Data & Statistics
- The survey reached 1,880 organizations listed by the government-affiliated Organization for Technical Intern Training.
- Valid responses were received from 348 organizations.
- Of those respondents, 125 (35.9 %) reported no sufficient teachers and no prospects for recruitment.
- Only 51 organizations (14.7 %) confirmed they had secured enough teachers, while 66 (19 %) said they had prospects.
- The remaining 106 respondents indicated ongoing efforts.
- The 348 respondents plan to accept 17,247 foreign workers in the first year, including 13,502 expected to meet the A1 proficiency threshold.
- As of August, the total pool of registered Japanese language teachers stood at roughly 20,000.
Official Statements & Responses
An official from the Immigration Services Agency emphasized the need to increase awareness of the new system, noting that many organizations are uncertain how to locate qualified teachers or where to seek guidance.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We have to raise awareness about the system,” — an Immigration Services Agency
What’s Next
The government will monitor teacher recruitment as the April rollout approaches, and agencies are expected to issue further guidance to help organizations connect with qualified language instructors.