The government will revise a point system that grades individuals based on annual income, educational backgrounds and job experience. Those with high scores receive preferential treatment.

Now the government will add points for working at companies promoted by local communities. The government had rolled out the programme on a trial basis in Hiroshima Prefecture and Kitakyushu and will now expand it nationwide.

The aim is to attract such specialists as researchers, engineers and business managers. Many companies in rural areas are facing a need for transformation in response to digitalisation and decarbonisation. In Hiroshima Prefecture, for example, semiconductor developers are trying to invite engineers.

An applicant whose point total reaches 70 will qualify for “highly specialised profession” status, and the period of stay in Japan required to obtain permanent residence will be shortened to three years from 10.

At 80 points, only one year will be required. Parents and domestic servants will be allowed to come along, and spouses will be permitted to work.

Working in a local company will be worth 10 points and treated the same as having annual income of  ¥10 million or more as a manager.

The number of workers certified as highly specialised reached 31,451 at the end of 2021. The number continues to rise despite the pandemic. By nationality, Chinese accounted for approximately 70% as of the end of 2020, followed by Indians at 6% and Americans at 5%.

Currently, daily arrivals are capped at 20,000 in response to Covid-19. The government is trying to lay the groundwork for stepped-up recruitment of foreign nationals in a post-coronavirus era.

It will also try to find smaller local companies seeking foreign talent with the help of the Japan External Trade Organization. In fiscal 2021, JETRO helped companies hire 180 people.