[International comparison of construction human resources trends in 149 countries worldwide] Construction human resources: Japan ranks 8th in the world in number of workers, but wages are the lowest in the G7, and salary levels fall below South Korea and Singapore in Asia
According to a global survey by Human Resocia, Japan ranks 8th globally in the number of construction workers, but its average annual salary is the lowest among G7 nations and falls below Asian peers like South Korea and Singapore.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 23, 2026 at 22:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 23, 2026 at 13:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 23, 2026 at 14:46 (1h 14m after Collected)
Human Resocia Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Tetsuo Takahashi; hereinafter "the Company"), a comprehensive human resources service company providing temporary staffing for the construction industry, overseas engineer dispatch, and recruitment services, conducted a survey on the number of workers and salary levels in the global construction industry based on data from the International Labour Organization (ILO) and other sources.
As a result, while Japan ranks high with the 8th largest number of construction workers among 149 countries worldwide, its average annual salary is the lowest among the Group of Seven (G7) developed nations, revealing its internationally low wage level. Even in comparisons within the Asian region where construction talent is concentrated, salary levels fell below those of South Korea and Singapore, confirming a situation where Japan does not necessarily hold an advantage.
[Points of this Survey Result]
● While Japan ranks high at 8th in the world in the number of construction workers, its average annual salary is the lowest in the G7.
● In comparisons within the Asian region, Japan's salary level is lower than South Korea and Singapore.
● Compensation conditions, including wage levels, are crucial for securing construction human resources.
・This report defines workers employed in the "construction industry" under industrial classifications as construction workers, and aggregates and analyzes statistical data from various countries based on ILOSTAT (statistical data from the International Labour Organization). Details of the sources are listed at the end of this report.
・Because figures are rounded to the first decimal place, the total sum and the breakdown totals do not necessarily match.
About the report of this survey result
The full version of this survey result is provided as a downloadable document at the URL above.
1. Overview of Survey Results
Japan's number of construction workers ranks 8th in the world, while its average annual salary is the lowest in the G7.
The total number of construction workers worldwide reached 241.145 million across 149 countries. By country, following India in 1st place (60.558 million) and China in 2nd place (50.435 million), Japan ranked 8th, indicating that the human resource scale in the construction industry maintains a certain level.
On the other hand, looking at the average annual salary of construction workers, Japan stood at 27,953 US dollars, the lowest level among the Group of Seven (G7) developed nations. Its ranking also dropped from 25th in the previous year to 29th, showing a relative decline in its international wage position.
From this survey result, it has become clear that while Japan's construction industry ranks high globally in terms of the number of workers, its wage level remains low among major countries.
2. Details of Survey Results
● The number of construction workers is increasing globally, but decreasing in Japan
The number of construction workers globally totaled 241.145 million across 149 countries, an increase of 4.363 million (up 2.0%) from the previous year. By region, the Asia-Pacific region accounted for 63.8% of the total, with the majority of construction talent concentrated there. By country, India had the largest number at 60.558 million, followed by China and the United States.
Japan ranks high in 8th place with 4.77 million workers. However, the number of construction workers in Japan has been declining in recent years, decreasing by approximately 170,000 between 2020 and 2024, leaving concerns about securing human resources to meet future construction demand.
● Average annual salaries in the construction industry vary greatly by country, with scattered growth rates
Looking at the average annual salary of construction workers by country, there are significant differences in wage levels. Switzerland, with the highest average annual salary, reached 79,900 US dollars. While top-ranking countries maintain high levels, centered in Europe, the results showed large disparities between countries due to impacts such as each country's economic situation and foreign exchange trends. Japan stood at 27,953 US dollars, ranking 29th out of 121 countries for which data could be obtained in the US dollar-based international comparison.
Furthermore, comparing the year-on-year growth rate of average annual salaries, Senegal had the highest growth rate at 113.4%, followed by Croatia at 64.1% and Mauritius at 53.4%, indicating variations in the extent of increases.
Japan experienced a 6.3% decrease, stagnating at 73rd among the 82 comparable countries. Note that while the average annual salary in Japan's construction industry has been moderately rising in recent years on a yen basis, it decreased when converted to US dollars due to the impact of the foreign exchange market.
● Even in Asian comparisons, Japan's construction wages fall below South Korea and Singapore
Even in the Asian region where construction talent is concentrated, the average annual salary in Japan's construction industry fell below the levels of South Korea and Singapore. This shows that from an international comparison perspective, Japan's salary level does not necessarily hold an advantage even within Asia.
● Compensation conditions, including wage levels, are crucial for securing construction human resources
The results of this survey revealed that although Japan's construction industry ranks high at 8th in the world in terms of the number of workers, its advantage in terms of salary is not high when viewed from overseas as a country to work in.
Various initiatives are seen in countries around the world to secure construction talent from overseas. In South Korea, acceptance of foreign workers...
As a result, while Japan ranks high with the 8th largest number of construction workers among 149 countries worldwide, its average annual salary is the lowest among the Group of Seven (G7) developed nations, revealing its internationally low wage level. Even in comparisons within the Asian region where construction talent is concentrated, salary levels fell below those of South Korea and Singapore, confirming a situation where Japan does not necessarily hold an advantage.
[Points of this Survey Result]
● While Japan ranks high at 8th in the world in the number of construction workers, its average annual salary is the lowest in the G7.
● In comparisons within the Asian region, Japan's salary level is lower than South Korea and Singapore.
● Compensation conditions, including wage levels, are crucial for securing construction human resources.
・This report defines workers employed in the "construction industry" under industrial classifications as construction workers, and aggregates and analyzes statistical data from various countries based on ILOSTAT (statistical data from the International Labour Organization). Details of the sources are listed at the end of this report.
・Because figures are rounded to the first decimal place, the total sum and the breakdown totals do not necessarily match.
About the report of this survey result
The full version of this survey result is provided as a downloadable document at the URL above.
1. Overview of Survey Results
Japan's number of construction workers ranks 8th in the world, while its average annual salary is the lowest in the G7.
The total number of construction workers worldwide reached 241.145 million across 149 countries. By country, following India in 1st place (60.558 million) and China in 2nd place (50.435 million), Japan ranked 8th, indicating that the human resource scale in the construction industry maintains a certain level.
On the other hand, looking at the average annual salary of construction workers, Japan stood at 27,953 US dollars, the lowest level among the Group of Seven (G7) developed nations. Its ranking also dropped from 25th in the previous year to 29th, showing a relative decline in its international wage position.
From this survey result, it has become clear that while Japan's construction industry ranks high globally in terms of the number of workers, its wage level remains low among major countries.
2. Details of Survey Results
● The number of construction workers is increasing globally, but decreasing in Japan
The number of construction workers globally totaled 241.145 million across 149 countries, an increase of 4.363 million (up 2.0%) from the previous year. By region, the Asia-Pacific region accounted for 63.8% of the total, with the majority of construction talent concentrated there. By country, India had the largest number at 60.558 million, followed by China and the United States.
Japan ranks high in 8th place with 4.77 million workers. However, the number of construction workers in Japan has been declining in recent years, decreasing by approximately 170,000 between 2020 and 2024, leaving concerns about securing human resources to meet future construction demand.
● Average annual salaries in the construction industry vary greatly by country, with scattered growth rates
Looking at the average annual salary of construction workers by country, there are significant differences in wage levels. Switzerland, with the highest average annual salary, reached 79,900 US dollars. While top-ranking countries maintain high levels, centered in Europe, the results showed large disparities between countries due to impacts such as each country's economic situation and foreign exchange trends. Japan stood at 27,953 US dollars, ranking 29th out of 121 countries for which data could be obtained in the US dollar-based international comparison.
Furthermore, comparing the year-on-year growth rate of average annual salaries, Senegal had the highest growth rate at 113.4%, followed by Croatia at 64.1% and Mauritius at 53.4%, indicating variations in the extent of increases.
Japan experienced a 6.3% decrease, stagnating at 73rd among the 82 comparable countries. Note that while the average annual salary in Japan's construction industry has been moderately rising in recent years on a yen basis, it decreased when converted to US dollars due to the impact of the foreign exchange market.
● Even in Asian comparisons, Japan's construction wages fall below South Korea and Singapore
Even in the Asian region where construction talent is concentrated, the average annual salary in Japan's construction industry fell below the levels of South Korea and Singapore. This shows that from an international comparison perspective, Japan's salary level does not necessarily hold an advantage even within Asia.
● Compensation conditions, including wage levels, are crucial for securing construction human resources
The results of this survey revealed that although Japan's construction industry ranks high at 8th in the world in terms of the number of workers, its advantage in terms of salary is not high when viewed from overseas as a country to work in.
Various initiatives are seen in countries around the world to secure construction talent from overseas. In South Korea, acceptance of foreign workers...