For foreign nationals who want to work in Japan, there is more than one route to entering the country. Some people study at a Japanese educational institution before seeking employment, while others acquire skills by working in Japan.
On April 1, 2027, Japan is scheduled to introduce a new Employment for Skill Development System (Ikusei Shuro Seido). The system aims to accept foreign nationals in sectors facing serious labor shortages, develop their skills through employment, and secure workers who can support Japanese industries.
This article explains the basic structure of the Employment for Skill Development System, how it differs from studying in Japan, how it connects to the Specified Skilled Worker status, and how it relates to the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services status.
1. What Is the Employment for Skill Development System?
The Employment for Skill Development System is designed to help foreign nationals acquire the skills they need for future employment while working in Japan.
In sectors covered by the system that face serious labor shortages, the goal is to develop workers who reach a skill level equivalent to that required for Specified Skilled Worker (i) through, in principle, three years of employment.
The Specified Skilled Worker system is intended for foreign nationals who already possess a certain level of skills and expertise. In contrast, the Employment for Skill Development System does not generally require applicants to have the same skill level as Specified Skilled Worker (i) when they enter Japan. Instead, they are expected to acquire the necessary skills while working.
However, this does not mean that anyone can work freely under the system. Requirements apply to eligible industrial sectors, accepting employers, employment contracts, and employment-for-skill-development plans. Requirements concerning Japanese-language proficiency and skills also vary by sector.
The Employment for Skill Development System is therefore not simply a way to work in Japan. It combines skill development with the formation of a future career.
2. Differences Between the Employment for Skill Development System and Student Status
Both the Employment for Skill Development System and Student status can serve as starting points for foreign nationals who want to build a future in Japan. However, their purposes and the activities they involve after arrival are substantially different.
Student Status: Study in Japan and Prepare for the Future
The Student status of residence is for foreign nationals receiving education at eligible institutions in Japan, such as universities, vocational schools, and Japanese-language educational institutions.
International students can learn Japanese and specialized knowledge, become familiar with life in Japan, and prepare for further education or future employment.
For example, a person may study Japanese at a Japanese-language school, advance to a university or vocational school, and then seek employment with a Japanese company after graduation.
However, Student status is not intended primarily for employment. Even when a student works part-time with permission to engage in activities outside their status of residence, they must comply with the applicable conditions and restrictions.
Employment for Skill Development: Acquire Skills While Working
Under the Employment for Skill Development System, the primary activity is working under an employment contract with an accepting employer, rather than enrolling in a school.
Foreign nationals work in actual jobs within eligible sectors while acquiring the skills and Japanese-language proficiency required for their work.
This means that they need to be matched with an accepting employer before or around the time they come to Japan. However, they do not necessarily need personal connections with a Japanese company to participate. A system is provided to connect job seekers with accepting employers through sending organizations and supervising and support organizations.
In short, studying is the central activity under Student status, while working and acquiring skills are central to the Employment for Skill Development System.
Which route is appropriate depends on the individual’s educational background, work experience, Japanese-language proficiency, financial circumstances, and future goals.
3. From Employment for Skill Development to Specified Skilled Worker
One of the main features of the Employment for Skill Development System is its planned connection with the Specified Skilled Worker system.
Under the Employment for Skill Development System, the goal is to reach a skill level equivalent to that required for Specified Skilled Worker (i) through, in principle, three years of employment. Afterward, individuals may seek to change to Specified Skilled Worker (i) if they meet the required conditions, including those relating to skills and Japanese-language proficiency.
Japanese-Language and Skill Development Goals
Under the Employment for Skill Development System, it is important to improve Japanese-language proficiency gradually while acquiring the skills required for the job.
Regarding Japanese-language proficiency, participants are required to acquire an A1-equivalent level under the Japan Foundation’s JF Standard for Japanese-Language Education Reference Framework and take an examination within one year of starting the program. As a general goal over the three-year period, they are also expected to acquire an A2-equivalent level and pass an examination.
A1 and A2 are levels used to describe language proficiency. Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) levels N5 and N4 can serve as reference points when considering these levels. However, A1 and N5, or A2 and N4, are not exactly equivalent. The JLPT primarily assesses language knowledge, reading, and listening, and does not directly measure every aspect of language ability, including speaking and writing.
Skills are also expected to develop in stages. For example, a training plan might set a goal of passing the Basic Grade of the National Trade Skills Test (Gino Kentei Kiso-kyu) by the end of the first year, followed by the Grade 3 test for foreign technical interns or another relevant examination at a subsequent stage. For Japanese, a gradual learning plan might aim for N5-equivalent proficiency in the first year and N4-equivalent proficiency in the second year.
However, these examinations and timelines do not apply uniformly to every sector. The specific skills tests, Japanese-language levels, and examination schedules depend on the relevant sector and occupational category. Anyone planning a particular career path should confirm the requirements applicable to their intended field.
Transition to Specified Skilled Worker (i)
Specified Skilled Worker (i) is a status of residence for foreign nationals who possess a certain level of skills and work in designated industrial sectors facing labor shortages.
The transition from Employment for Skill Development to Specified Skilled Worker (i) is intended to provide a standard route for foreign nationals to continue working in Japan and develop their careers after acquiring the necessary skills.
However, completing the Employment for Skill Development program does not automatically qualify someone to change to Specified Skilled Worker (i). The individual must meet the applicable requirements, including those concerning the eligible sector, skills, and Japanese-language proficiency.
In certain cases, it may also be possible to seek a transition to Specified Skilled Worker (i) before completing the full Employment for Skill Development period. Whether this is possible depends on the relevant conditions, including skills and Japanese-language examinations and the period of employment with the same accepting employer.
Career Development Beyond Specified Skilled Worker (i)
After gaining experience under Specified Skilled Worker (i), foreign nationals may be able to seek a transition to Specified Skilled Worker (ii) if they meet the required skill level and other conditions in an eligible sector.
In this way, progressing from Employment for Skill Development to Specified Skilled Worker can provide a path toward improving skills and building a longer-term career while working in Japan.
4. Is It Possible to Move from Employment for Skill Development to Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services?
The possibility of changing from Employment for Skill Development to Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services (Gijinkoku) is another point to consider.
In short, a change of status of residence may be possible if the individual meets the requirements for Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services. However, completing the Employment for Skill Development program does not, by itself, qualify someone for this status.
Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services Has Its Own Requirements
Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services is a status of residence for foreign nationals engaging in work that requires specialized knowledge, technical expertise, or other qualifications covered by this status.
To obtain permission, the applicant must meet the relevant requirements concerning educational background, work experience, or other qualifications. The actual duties they will perform must also fall within the scope of work permitted under this status.
For example, suppose someone who graduated from a university overseas comes to Japan under the Employment for Skill Development System. Their university degree alone does not guarantee that they can change to Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services. Their university major, work experience, and proposed duties at the prospective employer are considered when determining whether they meet the requirements.
The Transition to Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services Differs from the Transition to Specified Skilled Worker
The transition from Employment for Skill Development to Specified Skilled Worker (i) is intended as a standard route for workers who have acquired the necessary skills to continue working in the relevant sector.
By contrast, a transition to Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services is a separate route to consider when an individual meets the requirements for that status and will engage in eligible specialized work.
Therefore, completing the Employment for Skill Development program does not automatically make someone eligible for Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services. Nor does working under the Employment for Skill Development System automatically lead to a professional or specialist position.
On the other hand, someone who already meets the requirements for Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services and can obtain a suitable job that makes use of their expertise may be able to seek employment under that status from the outset, without going through the Employment for Skill Development System.
The important point is that Employment for Skill Development, Specified Skilled Worker, and Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services have different purposes and requirements. The appropriate route must be considered in light of the individual’s background and the actual work they intend to perform.
5. Choosing the Right Route for Your Future
The appropriate route for working in Japan depends on each individual’s circumstances and goals.
For someone who wants to study Japanese, acquire specialized knowledge, and seek employment after further education, Student status may be an option.
For someone who wants to acquire skills while working in an eligible sector and eventually seek a transition to Specified Skilled Worker, the Employment for Skill Development System may be an option.
Someone who already has the necessary educational background or work experience and can take up specialized work may be able to consider employment under Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services.
Regardless of the route, the individual must meet the requirements of the relevant status of residence. Studying in Japan does not guarantee employment, and completing the Employment for Skill Development program does not guarantee a transition to Specified Skilled Worker. A change from Employment for Skill Development to Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services also requires meeting that status’s own requirements.
When planning a future in Japan, it is important not to treat entering Japan as the ultimate goal. Instead, consider what you want to learn, which skills you need to acquire, and what kind of work you ultimately want to do.
Based on your educational background, experience, Japanese-language proficiency, financial circumstances, and future goals, plan not only for your initial status of residence but also for the career and life you want to build afterward.
１ Types of Status of Residence in Japan
３ Main Residence and Immigration Applications in Japan
９ Submitting Immigration Applications on Behalf of Foreign Nationals in Japan