Japan · Jobs
Where to find jobs in Japan — major job boards, in-demand sectors, and how to apply.
AI-drafted, editorially reviewed. Confirm specifics with the official authority.
Hello Work, run by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, is Japan's official public employment service — and unusually it includes offices with desks that specialise in supporting foreign workers, so it offers in-person help rather than only listings. The rule that shapes everything else is matching: a foreign worker needs a work-related status of residence that matches the job type. Categories such as Specified Skilled Worker cover defined labour-shortage sectors.
Hello Work, run by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW), is Japan's official public employment service, with offices including ones that specialise in supporting foreign workers. Most foreign workers need a work-related status of residence that matches the job; some categories, such as Specified Skilled Worker (SSW), cover defined labour-shortage sectors.
- Hello Work (Public Employment Security Offices, MHLW) is the official job-placement service, with foreigner-support desks.
- Foreign workers need a work-related status of residence that matches the job type.
- Categories such as Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) cover defined labour-shortage sectors.
- MHLW sets labour standards and the regional minimum wages.
- 1
Match the status to the job type
Foreign workers need a work-related status of residence that matches the job type. A status that permits work in general is not enough if it does not match what the role actually involves.
- 2
Check the match before accepting
Because the requirement is a match rather than a general permission, verify that the specific role fits your status before accepting it. A mismatch is a problem for both sides.
- 3
Use a Hello Work foreigner-support desk
Some Hello Work offices have desks specialising in support for foreign workers. That is in-person help with the matching question, which a job listing alone cannot give you.
- 4
Consider the shortage-sector categories
Categories such as Specified Skilled Worker cover defined labour-shortage sectors. If your target work falls in one, that route may fit better than a general work status.
- 5
Check MHLW for standards and minimums
MHLW sets labour standards and the regional minimum wages. Since the minimum is regional, checking it alongside the job means you are comparing an offer against the right local floor.
- Job type identified precisely
- Status of residence matched to that job type
- Match verified before accepting an offer
- Nearest foreigner-support desk located
- Specified Skilled Worker route considered
- Prefectural minimum wage checked for the location
- Labour standards reviewed via MHLW
- Hello Work Internet Service (MHLW)
Official public job-placement service.
- Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
National labour authority.
Frequently asked questions
Can any work visa cover any job in Japan?
No. A foreign worker needs a work-related status of residence that matches the job type, so a status permitting work in general is not enough if it does not match what the role actually involves. Verify the match before accepting an offer.
Does Hello Work help foreign job seekers?
Some offices have desks that specialise in supporting foreign workers. That means in-person help with the status-matching question, which a listing on its own cannot give you — worth using rather than relying only on online search.
What is Specified Skilled Worker for?
It covers defined labour-shortage sectors. If the work you are targeting falls within one of those sectors, that route may fit your situation better than a general work status, so it is worth checking which sectors are covered.
Government portals
- Prime Minister's Office of Japan — Official site of Japan's Prime Minister — cabinet policies, press conferences, policy statements
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan — Japan visa applications, overseas safety info, consular services, and diplomatic policy
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan — Residence status, work visas, permanent residency, and naturalization in Japan
- National Tax Agency (Japan) — Income tax, corporate tax, consumption tax filing and e-Tax online submission