According to the article "Workforce may shrink by millions by 2030: study", the projected labor shortage in Japan in the next 20 years will be some 4.6 million people -- under a best-case scenario and if all available married women, seniors capable of working, and young workers are convinced to join the workforce.
Having recently returned to Vancouver from Japan, I note that the Canadian government's response to an extreme shortage of labor in this city has been to allow for increased immigration, including temporary worker permits for foreigners. As I hear of the projected labor shortfall in Japan, the solution jumps out: Allow more immigration or increase the number of workers allowed in on long-stay work permits.
This is obviously not a political winner for any Japanese government, as indicated by the conspicuous absence of any such suggestion in the government press release that the article quotes. Obviously, the situation is not yet dire enough to officially consider increasing the number of foreigners allowed into the country. I am curious, though, when and whether this position will change as Japan moves toward the 4 million-plus worker shortfall.
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