Worker shortage in Japan to hit 6.4m by 2030, survey finds

More women, elderly and foreign workers needed to keep future economy healthy

Japan needs to consider new measures, both human and technological, to refill its shrinking labor pool.

KEIICHI KAMEI, Nikkei staff writer

October 25, 2018 13:26 JST

TOKYO -- Japan will face a shortage of 6.44 million workers in 2030, making wage hikes, increased child care and other labor-related reforms vital to ensuring a stable workforce, according to a joint survey by Persol Research and Consulting and Chuo University released on Tuesday.

The figure equals about 5% of the country's 2017 population, and would mark a fivefold increase from 1.21 million in 2017, a shortage estimated by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.