In a significant move that could open doors for thousands of skilled Pakistani professionals, Japan is set to increase the hiring of Pakistani workers across a broad range of sectors in the coming years. This development comes as part of a renewed partnership between Pakistan’s Overseas Employment Corporation (OEC) and the Japanese recruitment firm PlusW Inc., signed during the recent Pakistan-Japan Human Resources Stakeholders Meeting.
Expansion of the Special Skilled Worker Program
The collaboration, initially centered on the IT sector, has now been expanded to 14 new fields under the Special Skilled Worker (SSW) framework. These include:
• Healthcare
• Agriculture
• Construction
• Hospitality
• Manufacturing, and more
This expansion is designed to better align Pakistan’s growing pool of young, skilled workers with Japan’s labor market needs.
High Demand for Skilled Labor in Japan
Wakak Sakurai, CEO of PlusW Inc., emphasized that Japan will require around 820,000 specialized workers by 2028, with a current labor shortfall exceeding 525,000 positions. Shakurai highlighted that 16 critical sectors are in dire need of human capital, presenting a strong opportunity for Pakistani experts.
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OEC Managing Director Naseer Khan Kashani, who signed the updated MoU, kept on stating that this agreement is a vital step toward the creation of job opportunities, especially for Pakistani youth.
Economic Opportunities
Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan, Mr. Akamatsu admired the rising Pakistani talent and expressed hope that this partnership would not only fill the labor gap of Japan and strengthen diplomatic and economic ties between the two nations.
Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis, Chaudhry Salik Hussain, and Minister for IT, Shaza Fatima, both discussed about the importance of this collaboration.
Fatima also discussed the massive success of Pakistani organizations at Japan IT Week in Tokyo, where 15 firms secured deals worth over $600,000.
Why It Matters for Pakistani Workers
For Pakistani experts, especially in IT, construction, and healthcare, employment in Japan offers better wages, exposure to cutting-edge technology, and the chance to build international careers. Japanese firms, on the other hand, are extremely hopeful for continued improvements in Pakistan’s business climate to further facilitate collaboration.