Bipolarization in Preparedness for the Statutory Employment Rate Increase: 'Specific Part-Time Worker' Employment Rate in Compliant Companies is 3.5 Times Higher

Leverages Co., Ltd., which operates the disability employment support service 'Worklear' (https://worklear.jp/), conducted a survey on the actual state of disability employment. In light of the scheduled increase of the statutory employment rate to 2.7% in July 2026 and the expansion of companies subject to employment obligations (companies with 37.5 or more employees), the survey targeted 555 personnel involved in disability employment practices at companies with 37.5 or more employees.

<Survey Summary> Approximately 60% of companies that have already achieved the 2.7% rate are focusing on 'internal training and awareness,' with a gap of over 20 percentage points compared to companies struggling to comply. Over 60% of compliant companies utilize the 'specific part-time worker' employment system, which is about 3.5 times higher than non-compliant companies. Furthermore, more than half of the compliant companies use external support, most commonly to 'resolve the shortage of personnel resources.' The AI utilization rate among employees with disabilities is about 70%, with 99% of utilizing companies realizing positive effects, including contributions to 'reducing management workload.'

1. Approximately 60% of compliant companies focus on 'internal training and awareness.' According to the survey, only 28.3% of companies have 'already achieved' the 2.7% rate. While there is a certain prospect when including those 'expected to achieve by July (35.9%),' about one in five companies (18.4%) stated that 'achievement is difficult,' showing a polarization in preparation. The most common focus area was 'internal training and awareness (42.0%),' reaching 56.7% among compliant companies. However, over 90% face internal resource shortages, specifically 'lack of specialized know-how (50.5%),' 'lack of acceptance capacity at the workplace (50.1%),' and 'shortage of personnel workload (42.3%).'

2. Over 60% of compliant companies use the 'specific part-time worker' system. Awareness of the system for 'specific part-time workers' (working 10 to less than 20 hours a week) was 97.1%. While 64.3% of compliant companies currently employ them, the rate is only 18.6% among non-compliant companies, indicating a 3.5 times difference.

3. More than half of compliant companies use external support. About 40% (37.1%) of companies reported using external support services. Among compliant companies, this figure rises to 53.5%. The primary reason for utilization is 'shortage of HR personnel resources (64.0%),' followed by 'lack of specialized know-how internally (42.3%).'

4. AI utilization rate is about 70%, with 99% feeling the benefits. The utilization rate of AI tools by employees with disabilities was 67.3%. Reported benefits include 'overall productivity improvement (51.1%),' 'improved work speed (48.9%),' and 'improved accuracy (46.3%).' It also reduced burdens on the management side, such as 'reducing communication burden (43.0%)' and 'reducing management workload (13.6%).'

<Message from Yukiko Tsuru, Worklear Business Manager> The survey revealed a growing polarization in initiatives between companies that have already achieved the 2.7% rate and those that have not ahead of the July 2026 legal revision.