Japan’s foreign resident population hit a record 4.28 million in 2026. The surge of Vietnamese workers within this group makes the trend worth examining.

Vietnamese nationals numbered 693,750, accounting for 16.2 % of all foreign residents, making them the second‑largest nationality after Chinese citizens. Their share highlights the growing role of Vietnam in Japan’s migrant workforce.

Among technical intern trainees, Vietnamese made up the largest nationality with 176,865 of the 457,509 trainees. They also led the Specified Skilled Worker visa category, holding 176,915 of the 444,256 visas.

The Specified Skilled Worker status, created in 2019 to address labor shortages in sectors like nursing care, agriculture and food service, recorded the biggest rise among residence types, increasing by 53,960 to reach 444,256 holders. This growth underscores how policy changes are attracting more Vietnamese workers.

The numbers show that Vietnamese migrants are increasingly filling key labour gaps in Japan, especially through the Specified Skilled Worker programme. Their expanding presence suggests that immigration policy can directly shape the country’s workforce composition.