2025-04-08

The Specified Skill System was established in 2018 and became operational the following April 2019. We will explain in detail the outline, benefits, and problems of this system.

What is the Specified Skill System?

The “Specified Skill System” is a system to accept foreign nationals with certain expertise and skills in industrial fields where it is difficult to secure human resources in Japan. Japanese companies have been able to accept foreign workers since April of the following year.

There are two types of “Specified Technical Skills”: “Specified Technical Skill No. 1” and “Specified Technical Skill No. 2. Specified Technical Skill No. 1 is a status of residence that allows foreign nationals with knowledge and experience in a specific industrial field to work in that field. The “Specified Technical Skill No. 2” is a status of residence that allows foreign nationals who possess the skilled skills necessary to engage in the specified industrial field to engage in such work.

If a foreigner obtains “Specified Technical Skills I,” the period of stay in Japan will be a period designated by the Minister of Justice as “a period not exceeding one year. In addition, the level of skill is to be confirmed through an examination or other means. However, foreigners who have completed “Technical Internship No. 2” are exempted from the examination. The level of Japanese language proficiency will be verified through tests, etc., to ensure that the applicant has the Japanese language skills necessary for daily life and work. However, foreigners who have completed Technical Internship No. 2 are exempt from the test. In principle, family members are not allowed to accompany the trainee. In addition, support is provided by the host institution (company) and registered support organization.

On the other hand, those who have obtained “Specified Technical Skills II” can stay for either 3 years, 1 year, or 6 months. In addition, the level of proficiency is verified through tests and other means. The level of Japanese language proficiency will not be checked by a test or other means. Family members may accompany the applicant if they meet the requirements. There is no support by the host institution (company) or registered support organization.

Advantages of the Specified Skill System

The first merit of the Specified Skill System is that it will help solve labor shortages by allowing a variety of work styles. The labor shortage in Japanese companies is becoming more and more serious every year, and since a wide range of industrial fields are covered by the Specified Technical Skills System, it should be possible to eliminate the labor shortage.

Another major advantage of the system is that it is expected to accept skilled workers who can make an immediate contribution to the workforce. In order to qualify for a specified skilled worker status, a considerable degree of knowledge and experience is required, and passing a relevant skills test is a must. Therefore, foreign workers accepted into the system are expected to have a certain level of specific skills and expertise, and to be able to make an immediate contribution to the workforce.

Problems with the Specified Skill System

The first problem with the Specified Technical Skill System is that it requires mandatory support for foreign workers in the “Specified Technical Skill 1” category. This mandatory support includes the following 10 items. Although the purpose is to secure competent foreign workers, it is a heavy burden for companies that accept them.
・Advance guidance
・Transportation to and from the country
・Support for securing housing and contracts necessary for daily living
・Orientation for daily life
・Accompanying foreign workers to official procedures, etc.
・Providing opportunities to learn Japanese
・Consultation and response to complaints
・Promotion of interaction with Japanese people
・Assistance in changing jobs (in case of redundancy, etc.)
・Periodic interviews and reporting to administrative agencies

Another major problem is that when foreign workers are actually accepted, many companies find it difficult to communicate with them due to differences in language, culture, etc., and this places a burden on the company and other Japanese workers. Of course, under the Specified Skill System, a Japanese language proficiency test is administered to foreign nationals, and only those who pass the test are granted status of residence. However, there are many cases where foreign workers do not fit in with the Japanese society and entrepreneurial climate when they actually start working.

Summary

The Specified Skills System is a system for accepting talented foreign workers into industrial fields that are suffering from a labor shortage. It has the merit of securing human resources that can be immediately effective, but companies that accept them are obliged to provide support.