Why Filipino migrants are rethinking their futures in Japan

When Japan’s embassy in the Philippines extended applications for Healthcare Jobs on April 15, the pitch was straightforward: 50 positions for nurses and 300 for Care Workers in Japan, a three- to four-year placement, free Japanese-language lessons in both countries and a daily allowance during training.On social media, the post’s attractive terms drew widespread interest from Filipinos – a reminder that Japan is still urgently recruiting Foreign Labour even as Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s administration, amid growing political pressure over Foreign Residents, moves to make it harder for migrants to settle long-term.The need is especially acute in care work: Japan will require about 2.72 million Care Workers by financial year 2040, roughly 570,000 more than in 2022, according to Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare estimates, while one think tank projection has warned the country could be nearly 1 million foreign workers short by then if current inflows continue.