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Japan's truck driver shortage sparks hiring spree in Vietnam, Indonesia

Release Date
2026-02-12
Media
NIKKEI Asia
Summary
Japan’s logistics industry is facing a growing shortage of truck drivers, and companies are increasingly turning to foreign workers to keep deliveries moving. The number of drivers has fallen sharply over the past two decades, and by 2030 the country is expected to face a shortfall of about 270,000 drivers, which could leave more than a third of packages undelivered. The problem has been intensified by population decline and stricter overtime rules, which now require more drivers to cover long-distance routes.

To address the shortage, the government plans to accept around 22,100 foreign drivers under the Specified Skilled Worker program by March 2029. Major logistics firms have begun recruiting in countries such as Vietnam and Indonesia, with some companies planning to hire hundreds or even thousands of foreign drivers over the next decade. At the same time, safety concerns have led the government to toughen the driving test for foreign applicants, causing pass rates to drop sharply and forcing companies to invest more in training and education on Japanese traffic rules.

Despite these efforts, structural limits remain. The Type 1 Specified Skilled Worker visa allows only a five-year stay and does not permit family members to accompany the worker, which can make Japan less attractive compared with other destinations. The weak yen and declining real wages also affect recruitment. Even if the government meets its target, foreign drivers would still cover less than ten percent of the projected shortage, meaning that automation and other efficiency measures will also be necessary.
Tags
Specified Skilled Worker

News Articles including "Specified Skilled Worker"

Released on
Article Title
Tags
2026-02-12
Japan's truck driver shortage sparks hiring spree in Vietnam, Indonesia(NIKKEI Asia)
Specified Skilled Worker
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Specified Skilled Worker,Technical Intern Training,Training employment
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Specified Skilled Worker
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Specified Skilled Worker
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Specified Skilled Worker
2025-05-13
Japan eyes skilled worker visas for waste, warehouse management(NIKKEI Asia)
Specified Skilled Worker
2025-04-12
Japan firm seeks to ease hiring process for foreign truck drivers(NIKKEI Asia)
Specified Skilled Worker
2025-03-23
Japan trucking sector eyes drivers from Indonesia, Vietnam amid shortage(NIKKEI Asia)
Specified Skilled Worker
2025-02-22
Indonesian bus driver to be first to work under new Japan visa status(NIKKEI Asia)
Specified Skilled Worker
2024-12-24
Most of Japan's skilled foreign workers who quit do so within a year()
Specified Skilled Worker
2024-11-23
Japan Job Market Points to Shift on Immigration(Newsweek)
Immigration Policy, Specified Skilled Worker
2024-11-09
Japan's LEOC to hire 1,000 skilled workers a year from Southeast Asia(NIKKEI Asia)
Specified Skilled Worker,Philippines,Myanmar
2024-09-30
FY2024 International FPCJ Webinar: Population Decline and Immigration Policy: How Can Japan Become a Country To Be Chosen?(Foreign Press Center Japan)
Immigration Policy,Technical Intern Training,Training employment,Specified Skilled Worker
2024-09-17
Indonesia to more than double Japan-bound workers: labor minister(NIKKEI Asia)
Specified Skilled Worker,Indonesia
2024-08-09
Japan hotels scramble for foreign workers as tourists flood country(NIKKEI Asia)
Specified Skilled Worker
2024-06-19
Indonesia nurses wanted: Japan hospital fights global rivals for talent(NIKKEI Asia)
Specified Skilled Worker
2024-04-03
Japan welcomes 4 new 'specified skill' categories for foreign workers but challenges remain(The Mainichi)
Specified Skilled Worker
2024-03-30
News in Easy English: Japan ready to accept many more foreign workers(The Mainichi)
Immigration Policy,Specified Skilled Worker
2024-03-23
Japan to let more foreigners work as in-home caregivers(NIKKEI Asia)
Specified Skilled Worker
2024-03-23
Record 3.4 million foreign residents in Japan as work visas rise(KYODO NEWS)
Specified Skilled Worker,Population
2024-03-06
Japan considers doubling limit on skilled foreign workers(Japan Times)
Specified Skilled Worker
2024-03-05
Japan to double cap on skilled foreign workers from fiscal 2024(NIKKEI Asia)
Specified Skilled Worker
2024-02-23
Japan Plans to Add 4 Fields to ‘Specified Skilled Worker’ Visa; Including Road Transportation Fields(Japan News)
Specified Skilled Worker
2024-02-07
Japan bets on tech, immigration as labor crisis worsens(DW)
Immigration Policy,Specified Skilled Worker
2024-01-28
Japan plans to add drivers, rail staff to skilled worker visa(The Asahi Shimbun)
Specified Skilled Worker
2024-01-28
Japan preparing to add transport roles to skilled visa amid shortages(KYODO NEWS)
Specified Skilled Worker
2024-01-26
Japan eyes adding drivers, railway workers to skilled worker visa(NIKKEI Asia)
Specified Skilled Worker
2024-01-17
Measures set out to keep foreign trainees in work in quake-hit areas(Japan Times)
Specified Skilled Worker,Technical Intern Training
2023-10-10
Japan to add driving to specified foreign worker skills(Japan Times)
Specified Skilled Worker
2023-09-14
Japan set to expand visa framework to tackle driver shortage(Japan Times)
Specified Skilled Worker
2023-06-09
Japan construction firm training foreign workers to become core of workforce(The Mainichi)
Specified Skilled Worker
2023-04-25
Japan eyes long-term stays for wider range of skilled foreign workers(NIKKEI Asia)
Specified Skilled Worker