Many of those surveyed pointed to increased welfare costs, language barriers and fears that the policy amounts to a gradual shift towards mass immigration.
Public support among the Japan publice for admitting more foreign workers to the nation has fallen below 60% for the first time in recent years, with a growing number of people expressing concerns over public safety, immigration and the impact on Japanese society.
A nationwide opinion poll conducted in May found that 58.2% of respondents either "support" or "somewhat support" expanding the number of foreign workers admitted to Japan. Meanwhile, 33.2% said they "oppose" or "somewhat oppose" the policy. The figures represent a continued shift in public opinion. Compared with the previous survey conducted in 2025, support fell by 4.1 percentage points while opposition rose by 2.7 points. Over the past two years, backing for expanding the foreign workforce has dropped from 71.8% to 58.2%, while opposition has increased from 21.1% to 33.2%.
New conservative PM Sanae Takaichi, a close ally of President Donald Trump, has pledged to build a "orderly society of coexistence" to help address chronic labour shortages caused by the country's ageing population. 74% cited fears that illegal overstays and other problems could lead to worsening public security. More than half said unemployed Japanese citizens should be prioritised for jobs, while around half expressed concerns that foreign workers may not follow local community rules. Others pointed to increased welfare costs, language barriers and fears that the policy amounts to a gradual shift towards mass immigration.
Supporters of the policy overwhelmingly argued that additional workers are needed to ease labour shortages, with 85.5% identifying this as the main benefit. Around 62% said Japan needs younger workers as its population continues to age, while others believed foreign workers contribute positively to the economy and make the country more internationally connected. Opposition was strongest among younger respondents. Nearly 40% of people in their thirties opposed expanding the number of foreign workers, while more than one-third of those aged between 18 and 29 also expressed opposition. Support remained above 60% among respondents in their forties, fifties and sixties.
According to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, approximately 2.57 million foreign workers were employed in the country at the end of October last year, marking the thirteenth consecutive annual increase. The government also plans to introduce a new "employment for skill development" programme from fiscal year 2027 to replace the long-criticised technical intern training system.
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