There's bad news for Japan as it seeks the talent it needs to compete in the global economy with an aging, shrinking population.
Japan ranks last among 11 Asian nations for its appeal to highly skilled foreign employees, behind countries including Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia, according to the 2017 IMD World Talent Ranking released Monday. Worldwide, Japan ranked 51st among 63 nations. Singapore ranked first in Asia, with Hong Kong second.
Recognizing the need to attract outside talent, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's government has opened the doors to highly skilled foreign workers, offering people who meet strict criteria what it claims is the world's fastest path to permanent residency — an aggressive move for a country notoriously averse to immigration.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.