Japan immigration hits record high as foreign talent fills gaps

Inflow helps shore up shrinking working-age population

As Japan's population ages and the share of working-age people hits a record low, the nursing care industry is counting on foreign workers to staff its facilities.

TOMOHIRO EBUCHI and YUSUKE YOKOTA, Nikkei staff writers

April 13, 2019 05:23 JST

TOKYO -- Japan saw net immigration rise for a sixth straight year to a record high in the year through Oct. 1, adding to a relatively youthful foreign population that is helping the country cope with a chronic labor shortage.

The number of immigrants to Japan minus the number of people leaving the country came to 165,000, government data released Friday shows. Resident foreigners totaled 2.22 million -- an all-time high and 1.76% of the population.