"Japanese Communication" is the Biggest Barrier to Hiring Foreigners - Surveying On-site Realities and True Feelings
A survey conducted by NINAITE Inc. and Michi Inc. on foreign employment revealed that approximately 80% of Japanese companies feel a labor shortage, with about 60% having experience hiring foreign talent. The biggest concern, cited by 70.4% of companies, is "Japanese communication."
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 30, 2026 at 19:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 30, 2026 at 10:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 30, 2026 at 20:47 (10h 16m after Collected)
NINAITE Inc. (Headquarters: Sapporo, Hokkaido; CEO: Sanshiro Yokoyama), a company that transforms foreign employment through on-site solutions and technology, conducted an awareness survey on foreign hiring in collaboration with Michi Inc. (Headquarters: Osaka, Osaka; CEO: Ayumi Shimokata).
As the labor shortage due to the declining birthrate and aging population accelerates, the hiring of foreign talent is becoming a realistic option for many companies. However, anxieties about the complexity of systems and cultural/linguistic gaps persist.
This survey broadly investigated the current perception, challenges, and necessary support measures regarding foreign hiring.
Approximately 80% of companies feel a labor shortage, and approximately 40% have already hired foreign workers.
Regarding the question, "Does your workplace currently feel a labor shortage?" (n=287), "strongly feel it" was 25.1% (72 respondents) and "somewhat feel it" was 54.0% (155 respondents), revealing that a total of approximately 80% (79.1%) feel some kind of labor shortage. On the other hand, "don't feel it much" was 18.1% (52 respondents), and "don't feel it at all" remained at 2.8% (8 respondents).
In response to the question, "Has your workplace ever hired foreign talent?", "currently hiring" was 38.7% (111 respondents) and "have hired in the past" was 21.9% (63 respondents), totaling 60.7% of companies with hiring experience. "Have never hired" was 39.4% (113 respondents).
Against the backdrop of a deepening labor shortage, the hiring of foreign talent is already becoming an established practical measure in many companies.
Future interest in hiring: "Somewhat interested" is the most common, but over 40% are unenthusiastic.
In response to the question, "Is your workplace interested in future foreign hiring?" (n=287), "somewhat interested" accounted for the largest share at 44.3% (127 respondents). However, "not very interested" was 31.4% (90 respondents) and "not interested at all" was 12.5% (36 respondents), with unenthusiastic responses totaling 43.9%. "Very interested" remained at 11.8% (34 respondents).
While a segment of companies with some interest in foreign hiring exceeds the majority, over 40% remain uninterested, showing a polarization of interest. Carefully understanding the conditions that increase willingness to hire and the points of concern will likely be key to future widespread adoption.
Over 70% of anxieties are related to "Japanese communication" - the biggest concern is also this item.
In response to the question, "What anxieties do you have regarding hiring foreign workers?" (n=287, multiple answers), "anxiety about Japanese communication" was overwhelmingly number one with 202 responses (70.4%).
Following this were "anxiety about dealing with cultural differences and customs" at 138 responses (48.1%), "anxiety about dealing with trouble when it arises" at 120 responses (41.8%), "anxiety about being accepted on site" at 102 responses (35.5%), "concern that education and training burden will be high" at 97 responses (33.8%), and "anxiety about whether they will stay and work long-term" at 95 responses (33.1%). "Don't understand visa status and systems" was also 60 responses (20.9%).
Furthermore, in the single-answer question, "What is your biggest anxiety?", "anxiety about Japanese communication" was again the most common at 32.1% (92 respondents). "Anxiety about dealing with trouble when it arises" was 13.6% (39 respondents), and "anxiety about dealing with cultural differences and customs" followed at 13.2% (38 respondents).
In both questions, anxiety about "Japanese communication" emerged as the biggest challenge, indicating an urgent need to build language support mechanisms before and after hiring.
Additionally, some free-form comments included:
▼Examples of responses
"The language barrier is a big hurdle, making it difficult to explain work."
"The biggest thing is the language barrier. I currently work with Vietnamese people, and it would be good if we understood even a little common language, but it feels like we don't understand it at all."
"On-site communication is difficult."
Awareness of "Specific Skills Visa" is over half "only know the name", interest in hiring is also divided.
Regarding the question, "How much do you know about the 'Specific Skills Visa' residence status system?" (n=287), "only know the name" was the most common at 52.3% (150 respondents), followed by "know it to some extent" at 29.6% (85 respondents), "don't know it at all" at 11.8% (34 respondents), and "know the content well" remained at 6.3% (18 respondents).
Furthermore, in response to the question, "Is your workplace interested in hiring foreign workers with the Specific Skills Visa?", "somewhat interested" was the most common at 32.7% (94 respondents), "not very interested" at 29.3% (84 respondents), "don't know" at 18.5% (53 respondents), and "not interested at all" at 13.6% (39
As the labor shortage due to the declining birthrate and aging population accelerates, the hiring of foreign talent is becoming a realistic option for many companies. However, anxieties about the complexity of systems and cultural/linguistic gaps persist.
This survey broadly investigated the current perception, challenges, and necessary support measures regarding foreign hiring.
Approximately 80% of companies feel a labor shortage, and approximately 40% have already hired foreign workers.
Regarding the question, "Does your workplace currently feel a labor shortage?" (n=287), "strongly feel it" was 25.1% (72 respondents) and "somewhat feel it" was 54.0% (155 respondents), revealing that a total of approximately 80% (79.1%) feel some kind of labor shortage. On the other hand, "don't feel it much" was 18.1% (52 respondents), and "don't feel it at all" remained at 2.8% (8 respondents).
In response to the question, "Has your workplace ever hired foreign talent?", "currently hiring" was 38.7% (111 respondents) and "have hired in the past" was 21.9% (63 respondents), totaling 60.7% of companies with hiring experience. "Have never hired" was 39.4% (113 respondents).
Against the backdrop of a deepening labor shortage, the hiring of foreign talent is already becoming an established practical measure in many companies.
Future interest in hiring: "Somewhat interested" is the most common, but over 40% are unenthusiastic.
In response to the question, "Is your workplace interested in future foreign hiring?" (n=287), "somewhat interested" accounted for the largest share at 44.3% (127 respondents). However, "not very interested" was 31.4% (90 respondents) and "not interested at all" was 12.5% (36 respondents), with unenthusiastic responses totaling 43.9%. "Very interested" remained at 11.8% (34 respondents).
While a segment of companies with some interest in foreign hiring exceeds the majority, over 40% remain uninterested, showing a polarization of interest. Carefully understanding the conditions that increase willingness to hire and the points of concern will likely be key to future widespread adoption.
Over 70% of anxieties are related to "Japanese communication" - the biggest concern is also this item.
In response to the question, "What anxieties do you have regarding hiring foreign workers?" (n=287, multiple answers), "anxiety about Japanese communication" was overwhelmingly number one with 202 responses (70.4%).
Following this were "anxiety about dealing with cultural differences and customs" at 138 responses (48.1%), "anxiety about dealing with trouble when it arises" at 120 responses (41.8%), "anxiety about being accepted on site" at 102 responses (35.5%), "concern that education and training burden will be high" at 97 responses (33.8%), and "anxiety about whether they will stay and work long-term" at 95 responses (33.1%). "Don't understand visa status and systems" was also 60 responses (20.9%).
Furthermore, in the single-answer question, "What is your biggest anxiety?", "anxiety about Japanese communication" was again the most common at 32.1% (92 respondents). "Anxiety about dealing with trouble when it arises" was 13.6% (39 respondents), and "anxiety about dealing with cultural differences and customs" followed at 13.2% (38 respondents).
In both questions, anxiety about "Japanese communication" emerged as the biggest challenge, indicating an urgent need to build language support mechanisms before and after hiring.
Additionally, some free-form comments included:
▼Examples of responses
"The language barrier is a big hurdle, making it difficult to explain work."
"The biggest thing is the language barrier. I currently work with Vietnamese people, and it would be good if we understood even a little common language, but it feels like we don't understand it at all."
"On-site communication is difficult."
Awareness of "Specific Skills Visa" is over half "only know the name", interest in hiring is also divided.
Regarding the question, "How much do you know about the 'Specific Skills Visa' residence status system?" (n=287), "only know the name" was the most common at 52.3% (150 respondents), followed by "know it to some extent" at 29.6% (85 respondents), "don't know it at all" at 11.8% (34 respondents), and "know the content well" remained at 6.3% (18 respondents).
Furthermore, in response to the question, "Is your workplace interested in hiring foreign workers with the Specific Skills Visa?", "somewhat interested" was the most common at 32.7% (94 respondents), "not very interested" at 29.3% (84 respondents), "don't know" at 18.5% (53 respondents), and "not interested at all" at 13.6% (39