The number of foreign workers in Japan hit a record high of 274,145 as of June 1, the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry said Friday.

The figure, based on a survey of businesses with at least 50 employees, represents a 20.2 percent increase from a year earlier, it said.

Ministry officials traced the rise to a growing number of foreigners with subcontract jobs amid a trend among Japanese companies to outsource their businesses.