Job Introduction － Construction Industry
This page provides information useful for choosing a job, such as job types available in construction, annual income by job type, the current number of workers, and job details.
Index
- 1. What is Construction under Specified Skilled Worker?
- 1-1 Background
- Information for People Working with Specified Skilled Worker Status
- Differences Between Technical Intern Training and Specified Skilled Worker
- 2. Job description
- 3. Work style and salary
- 3-1 How to read salary and take-home pay
- 3-2 Working hours, work location, and shifts
- Things to Check Before Applying
- 4. Required Exams and Qualifications
- 5. Things to Check Before Applying
1. What work in this field means
1-1 Background
The construction industry is facing difficulty securing workers due to the declining birthrate, diversification of career choices, and other factors, and a serious labor shortage has become clear. As the average age of construction workers rises, it has become difficult to secure enough workers through domestic human resources alone. This system was introduced to accept foreign workers in response to this situation.
1-2 Information for People Working with Specified Skilled Worker Status
The Immigration Services Agency compiles and publishes the number of people working under Specified Skilled Worker status once every half year (once every three months until 2022). According to that data, the population ratios by country and age group are as follows.
As of the end of June 2024, 31,853 people work in the construction field under Specified Skilled Worker status. By region, most workers are from Asia, with Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Myanmar being the top countries of origin.
Although the Specified Skilled Worker system began in 2019, the number of people working in construction under this status has increased by about 11 times over the past three years, and the number of accepted workers is expected to continue expanding.
source : 出入国在留管理庁（https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/ssw/zairyuarchive.html）
1-3 Differences Between Technical Intern Training and Specified Skilled Worker
There are two systems for accepting foreign workers: the Technical Intern Training Program and the Specified Skilled Worker System, but their purposes and characteristics are very different.
The Technical Intern Training Program aims to help young people from developing countries acquire Japanese technical skills and contribute to the development of their home countries after returning. Its main purpose is skill acquisition, and it is positioned as training rather than labor. Therefore, job changes are not allowed, and the maximum period is five years.
On the other hand, the Specified Skilled Worker System was established to help address Japan's labor shortage. There are Specified Skilled Worker (i) and (ii), and the system accepts foreign workers as job-ready workers. Job changes are possible, and under Specified Skilled Worker (ii), bringing family members and obtaining permanent residency may also be possible. Tests to prove skills and Japanese language ability are required, and people with practical experience may have an advantage.
In addition, foreign nationals who have completed technical intern training can transition to the Specified Skilled Worker System. Experience gained through technical intern training is recognized, and some tests for Specified Skilled Worker (i) may be exempted, making the transition relatively smooth. This allows them to continue working in Japan for a longer period as Specified Skilled Workers after completing technical intern training, expanding opportunities for job changes and career advancement.
2. Job description
2-1 Job Description
In the construction field, workers can mainly take on three job categories: civil engineering, building construction, and lifeline and equipment.
Civil Engineering
- Work such as formwork construction, concrete pumping, tunnel propulsion work, construction machinery operation, earthwork, rebar construction, scaffolding work, and marine civil engineering work
- Construction, renovation, maintenance, and repair of civil engineering facilities under the instruction and supervision of a supervisor
- Procurement and transportation of raw materials and parts, and maintenance management of equipment, devices, tools, etc.
- Preparatory work such as assembling scaffolding and excavating equipment, and cleanup work such as dismantling scaffolding and backfilling equipment
- Cleaning, maintenance management, and other related work
Building Construction
- Work related to new construction, expansion, renovation, relocation, repair, and remodeling of buildings
- Work such as formwork construction, plastering, concrete pumping, roofing, earthwork, rebar construction, rebar joints, interior finishing, surface finishing, scaffolding, building carpentry, architectural sheet metal work, and sprayed urethane insulation
- Procurement and transportation of raw materials and parts, and maintenance management of equipment, devices, tools, etc.
- Engaging in preparatory work such as assembling scaffolding and excavating equipment, and cleanup work such as dismantling scaffolding and backfilling equipment
- Cleaning, maintenance management, and other related work
Lifeline and Equipment
- Work related to maintenance, installation, modification, and repair of lifeline equipment such as telecommunications, gas, water supply, and electricity
- Work such as telecommunications, piping, architectural sheet metal work, and thermal insulation
- Procurement and transportation of raw materials and parts, and maintenance management of equipment, devices, tools, etc.
- Preparatory work such as assembling scaffolding and excavating equipment, and cleanup work such as dismantling scaffolding and backfilling equipment
- Cleaning, maintenance management, and other related work
Please refer to the following site for detailed job descriptions.
2-2 Differences by work category
The construction field has three categories: civil engineering, building construction, and lifeline and equipment. Civil engineering includes roads, tunnels, bridges, rivers, and similar work. Building construction includes new building construction and renovation. Lifeline and equipment includes work related to electricity, gas, water, communication, piping, and similar systems.
2-3 Knowledge and Japanese needed for work
In construction, Japanese words for tools, materials, scaffolding, heavy machinery, safety belts, protective equipment, signals, dangerous areas, and work procedures are important. If you cannot understand safety checks, it may lead to accidents, so you need the ability to listen to site instructions accurately.
3. Work style and salary
3-1 How to read salary and take-home pay
The average monthly payment for SSW Construction workers in 2021 was ¥285,339. This is the average monthly payment based on periodic reports for SSW foreign workers who stayed throughout 2021.
According to public statistics, the average monthly payment for SSW foreign workers in this field is ¥194,358. This is not take-home pay. The actual amount you receive changes depending on taxes, social insurance fees, dormitory fees, food costs, overtime pay, night shift allowance, and other items. When checking a job offer, check not only the base salary, but also the estimated take-home pay, overtime pay, dormitory fees, social insurance, and transportation costs.
For new fields or fields with few workers, field-specific average payment may not be clear enough in public materials. Check the latest salary terms in the job ad and employment contract.
The salary amounts above are statistical average payments or guide amounts from job conditions. They are not the actual take-home pay. Take-home pay changes depending on taxes, social insurance fees, dormitory fees, food costs, overtime pay, night shift allowance, transportation costs, and other items. Under SSW, the pay must be equal to or higher than the pay of Japanese workers doing the same job.
3-2 Working hours, work location, and shifts
In construction, the work location may change depending on the site. There may be outdoor work, early morning meeting times, work changes due to weather, work at heights, and heavy lifting. Check qualification support, protective equipment, and how to travel to the work site.
3-3 Things to Check Before Applying
Before applying, check not only the monthly salary, but also the actual job content, working hours, days off, overtime pay, night shift allowance, dormitory fees, food costs, social insurance, transportation costs, qualification support, who will handle the residence status application, and the name of the registered support organization.
For job offers, check which category the job is in: civil engineering, building construction, or lifeline. Also check site transfers, overtime, days off, protective equipment, qualification support, dormitory, transportation support, and safety training.
4. Required Exams and Qualifications
4-1 First, check the Japanese language test needed for your field.
To obtain Specified Skilled Worker status for “Wood Industry,” you must pass both a Japanese language test and the Wood Industry Specified Skilled Worker (i) Proficiency Test.
To work as Specified Skilled Worker (i), in principle, you need to pass a Japanese language test and a field-specific skills evaluation test. For the Japanese language test, JLPT N4 or higher, or JFT-Basic A2 or higher, is accepted. In the nursing care field, the Nursing Care Japanese Language Evaluation Test is also required. People who have successfully completed Technical Intern Training (ii) may be exempt from tests depending on the field and work content.
4-2 Skills Evaluation Test
The Construction Field SSW (i) Evaluation Test is held for the categories of civil engineering, building construction, and lifeline and equipment. JAC publishes written test texts, practical test texts, sample questions, and other materials. Check the test information page and the official website for detailed test dates and application methods.
5. Things to Check Before Applying
5-1 Move on to study, job search, and application
After checking the job content and required tests, next check the flow for test study, company search, and residence status application. Even if you pass the tests, you still need an employment contract with a company and a residence status application.