Announced in 2025! Ehime Prefecture's Survey on Foreign Workers" is now available. Employment of foreigners is expanding, especially in nursing care facilities, lodging and restaurant industry.

JAPANNESIA Corporation (headquartered in Iyo City, Ehime Prefecture; Hiroyuki Ueda, President), a human resource introduction business specializing in Indonesian nationals, conducted a market survey on foreign workers in Ehime Prefecture. This survey is a summary of the latest situation in the prefecture for businesses operating industries in Ehime, amidst rapid changes in the global recruitment market, such as the passage of the new "Training and Employment" system in June 2024.

Results of Survey on Foreign Workers in FY2025

The number of foreign workers in Ehime Prefecture increased to 14,550. The number of foreign workers in Ehime increased to 14,550, a record high due to the acceptance of foreign nationals under the technical internship and specified skills programs.

Changes in the number of foreign workers in Ehime Prefecture since 2024

As of the end of October 2024, the number of foreign workers in Ehime Prefecture increased by 2,074 from the previous year (status of residence in professional/technical fields including specified skills: +1,138; technical training: +924; study abroad, permanent residence, and others: +12) to 14,550 (+16.6% year-on-year).

The increase in the number of foreign workers is largely attributable to the increase in the number of those working under the technical internship and specified skill systems. The ratio of workers under the technical training program is higher than the national average, accounting for about half of all foreign workers, and the number of cases of acceptance under the status of residence in professional and technical fields, including specified skills, has also increased significantly, so the number of foreign workers is expected to increase further in the future.

The overall increase in the number of foreign workers by nationality is expected to continue. Indonesia has reversed the trend with China to take third place.

Year-on-year increase/decrease by nationality in Ehime Prefecture in 2024

The number of foreign workers in Ehime Prefecture increased by 3,730 (+595 from the previous year) and 1,750 (+495 from the previous year) from the previous year, mainly from the Philippines and Indonesia, respectively.

In terms of the percentage of increase by nationality, Sri Lanka (+71.2%), Myanmar (+57.7%), and Indonesia (+39.4%) were first, second, and third, respectively, in terms of the number of foreign residents in Ehime Prefecture.

The number of establishments employing foreign nationals in Ehime Prefecture increased to 2,347. The number of foreign employees in Ehime increased to 2,347, a record high, mainly in nursing care facilities and the food service industry.

Changes in the Number of Businesses Employing Foreigners in Ehime Prefecture in 2024

The number of business establishments accepting foreign nationals in Ehime Prefecture increased by 216 establishments from the previous year (+10.1% year-on-year) to 2,347 establishments.

In terms of the rate of increase, there was an overall growth trend, particularly in the "medical and welfare" sector with 232 establishments (+20.2% over the previous year) and in the "accommodation and food services" sector with 152 establishments (+16.0% over the previous year).

Both the number of foreign workers and the number of business establishments are at record highs, suggesting that in addition to new establishments accepting foreign workers, there is a trend for companies with a history of accepting foreign workers to hire additional foreign workers.

[The number of foreign workers in the manufacturing industry (shipbuilding, sewing, etc.) in the prefecture increased to 8,040. Expanding mainly through technical training, the number of foreign workers is expected to exceed 10,000 within a few years.

Manufacturing Industry】Survey data on foreign workers in Ehime Prefecture

The number of foreign workers in the manufacturing industry in Ehime Prefecture increased by 980 over the previous year to 8,040.

By nationality, Vietnam and the Philippines accounted for more than 60% of the total, and the number is expanding mainly in the area of technical training.

Compared to FY2020, the number of foreign workers has increased by approximately 2,500, and foreign workers will continue to play an important role in supporting the manufacturing industry in Ehime Prefecture.

The number of foreign workers in the medical and welfare industry (nursing care facilities, etc.) increased to 1,694, a 5-year growth rate of +126%, a rapid growth triggered by the demand to secure human resources after the Corona disaster.

Medical and Welfare] Survey data on foreign human resources working in Ehime Prefecture

The number of foreign workers in the medical and welfare industry in Ehime Prefecture increased by 390 over the previous year to 1,694. Acceptance of workers with specified skills grew significantly from 354 in the previous year to 579 (+61.1% over the previous year), with Myanmar and Indonesia playing a central role in this expansion.

In addition, the five-year growth ratio reached +126%, indicating that the acceptance of foreign workers has been accelerating since the Corona Disaster.

[The number of foreign workers in the wholesale and retail trade increased to 1,221. Indonesia and Myanmar have been on the increase since the previous year.

Wholesale and retail industry】Survey data on foreign workers in Ehime Prefecture

The number of foreign workers in the wholesale and retail industry in Ehime Prefecture increased by 64 from the previous year to 1,221.

The number of foreign workers in the wholesale and retail industry in Ehime increased by 64 over the previous year to 1,221, while the number of Vietnamese and Chinese workers, who had led the market, declined slightly.

The number of foreign workers in the construction industry increased to 1,302. Expansion centered on Vietnam, the Philippines, and Indonesia.

Survey data on foreign human resources working in the construction industry in Ehime Prefecture.

The number of foreign workers in the construction industry in Ehime Prefecture increased by 238 over the previous year to 1,302.

In terms of the rate of increase from the previous year, Indonesia had the highest rate of increase, showing a growth trend. In terms of the ratio of status of residence, technical training tends to account for 75.26% of the total, which is higher than that of other industries.

The number of foreign workers in the accommodation and food service industry increased to 631, resulting in a five-year growth rate of +138% and rapid growth from around 2024.

The number of foreign workers in the accommodation and food service industry in Ehime Prefecture is expected to increase to 631 in the next five years.

The number of foreign workers in the accommodation and food service industry in Ehime Prefecture increased by +246 from the previous year to 631. Although the scale of the industry as a whole is still small, the trend of hiring foreigners is progressing rapidly with the gradual activation of the foreign employment movement from 2024.

Example of acceptance in Ehime Prefecture: "In 18 months, the number of foreign nursing care staff tripled" at a geriatric healthcare facility in Uchiko Town, Ehime Prefecture, where Indonesian employees are active.

Case Study: Introduction of a nursing care facility in Ehime Prefecture that employs foreign caregivers.

Medical Corporation Daishikai Ambition Uchiko-en, a long-term care healthcare facility for the elderly in Uchiko-cho, Ehime Prefecture, has moved from mainly hiring domestic staff to hiring Indonesian staff and is now operating a facility that is rooted in the community.

Interview article: Tripling the number of foreign caregivers in 18 months. Why Uchikoen was successful in recruiting foreign nationals.

https://japannesia.com/user_voice/uchikoen/

Case Study: "I was surprised at the speed of growth, which was about three times faster than I had imagined" - Indonesian staff at a restaurant business in Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture.

Case Study: Introduction of a restaurant business in Ehime Prefecture that employs foreign nationals.

Yume to Arigato (Dream and Thank You) Inc. in Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture, believes that hiring foreigners will become the standard in the restaurant industry, and has successfully created a multinational organization by hiring and training Indonesian staff.

Interview article: "I was surprised at the speed of growth, which was about three times faster than I had imagined." Ask "Yume to Arigato", which has 150 staff, about how restaurants can successfully hire non-Japanese employees.

https://japannesia.com/user_voice/yumetoarigato/

About JAPANNESIA

For employment and support of foreign human resources (specified skilled foreign nationals) in Ehime, go to JAPANNESIA.

JAPANNESIA provides introduction, support, Japanese language education, community operation, and consulting services specializing in Indonesian human resources.

We provide unique services centered on the education of foreign human resources, as well as community management for foreign workers, to support companies in their efforts to accept foreign workers.

Location: 1191-6 Miyashita, Iyo-shi, Ehime 799-3102

Representative ： Hiroyuki Ueda, President

Establishment ： June 2022

Capital ： 5 million yen

Business description: Recruitment support business for Indonesian human resources,

　　　　　 Comprehensive consulting business for foreign human resources

URL ： https://japannesia.com

Survey Summary

Market survey on foreign workers in Ehime Prefecture

Survey data: https://jsite.mhlw.go.jp/ehime-roudoukyoku/newpage_00912.html