Job Introduction － Nursing Care
This page provides information useful for choosing a job, such as job types available in nursing care, annual income by job type, the current number of workers, and job details.
Index
- 1. What is Nursing Care 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
- 4-1 Tests needed for this field
- 3-2 Skills Evaluation Test
- 3-3 Nursing Care Japanese Language Evaluation Test
- 5. Things to Check Before Applying
1. What work in this field means
1-1 Background
The nursing care 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 nursing care 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, 36,719 people work in the nursing care 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 nursing care under this status has increased by about 10,000 people per year 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
The main duties under Specified Skilled Worker “Nursing Care” are as follows.
- Physical care, such as helping with bathing, eating, and toileting according to the condition of the person receiving care
- Support work related to physical care, such as recreational activities and assistance with rehabilitation
2-2 Differences by work category
In nursing care, workers provide physical care according to the user's condition, such as helping with meals, bathing, toileting, and movement. Related tasks include recreation, rehabilitation support, monitoring, records, and cleaning inside the facility.
2-3 Knowledge and Japanese needed for work
In nursing care, Japanese is needed for speaking to users, checking their physical condition, helping with meals, bathing, and toileting, preventing accidents, infection prevention, records, and reports. Because there is a Nursing Care Japanese Language Evaluation Test, it is important to learn words used in nursing care workplaces.
3. Work style and salary
3-1 How to read salary and take-home pay
The average monthly payment for SSW Nursing Care workers in 2021 was ¥223,531. 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
Nursing care facilities may have shift work, such as early shifts, daytime shifts, late shifts, and night shifts. Physical strength is also needed because the work includes physical care. Check the type of facility, whether there are night shifts, the number of users, the record method, and the training system.
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 nursing care jobs, check whether there are night shifts, the range of physical care, the number of users, the record method, training, qualification support, dormitory fees, overtime, days off, and whether the workplace supports becoming a certified care worker.
4. Required Exams and Qualifications
4-1 First, check the Japanese language test needed for your field.
To obtain Specified Skilled Worker status for “Nursing Care,” you must pass three tests: a Japanese language test, a skills exam, and the Nursing Care Japanese Language Evaluation 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
In the nursing care field, in addition to the Nursing Care Skills Evaluation Test and the Nursing Care Japanese Language Evaluation Test, you also need JFT-Basic or JLPT N4 or higher. The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare publishes test guidelines and study texts. Check the test information page and the official website for detailed test information.
3-3 Nursing Care Japanese Language Evaluation Test
The Nursing Care Japanese Language Evaluation Test checks terms used in nursing care workplaces.
- Time: Available throughout the year
- Test Locations: Various countries and regions around the world
- How to Apply: Online Reservation
- Test Method: CBT (Online)
※For detailed test information, please check the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare website.
This site summarizes detailed test structure, sample questions, test information, and study strategies for the Nursing Care Japanese Language Evaluation Test.
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.