Japan's foreign workers surpass 2m for first time, led by Vietnamese

Indonesians are fastest-growing nationality as skilled-labor program expands

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A Vietnamese welder works in Japan. (Photo by Shugo Tamura)

Nikkei staff writers

TOKYO -- The number of foreign nationals working in Japan has topped 2 million for the first time, the labor ministry reported on Friday, as the country takes in more factory hands, caregivers and other labor from Southeast Asia.

The figure for October was up 12.4% on the year to nearly 2.05 million, a growth rate 6.9 percentage points higher than in October 2022.

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