Learn about job duties、work arrangements、how to assess pay、and the required exams。Also check the conditions for your desired work category。
Work involves intermediate treatment of municipal waste・industrial waste。It does not cover all resource recycling operations such as waste collection・transport。
Points to note about the system・covered work：This field was added in 2026。Accepting operators must meet conditions such as joining the council and obtaining certification as an excellent organization。Check official guidance for when exams and acceptance will begin。It is not covered by Specified Skilled Worker (ii)。
Official information by field from the responsible ministries・Immigration Services Agency
For the numbers of residents by field・nationality、see Immigration Services Agency publications。Check the reporting date、and consider these figures separately from the availability of jobs。
Published figures on foreign residents with Specified Skilled Worker statusSpecified Skilled Worker is a status of residence for people with certain skills to work in Japan。Generally、people who successfully complete Technical Intern Training No. 2 are exempt from the Japanese language exam。For skills exam exemptions、check the correspondence between the occupation・tasks completed and the desired field。
Technical Intern Training aims to contribute internationally through the transfer of skills。Labor laws also apply to technical interns。For the conditions for transition to the Employment for Skill Development system starting on 1 April 2027、check official guidance。
Latest guidance on Specified Skilled Worker・Employment for Skill Development2-1 Job Description
Work involves intermediate treatment of municipal waste・industrial waste。It does not cover all resource recycling operations such as waste collection・transport。
2-2 Differences by work category
Intermediate treatment such as sorting、equipment、waste handling、occupational health and safety and related topics。
2-3 Knowledge and Japanese needed for work
Learn Japanese for waste types、separation、sorting、treatment equipment、safety signs and related tasks。When you find foreign objects or hazardous materials、it is important to understand how to report them and safely stop machinery。
3-1 How to read salary and take-home pay
In the published pay statistics by field for 2021、there is no figure for this field。For current pay、check job postings and employment contracts。
Check base pay、scheduled working hours、hours covered by fixed overtime pay、overtime・night shift allowances、bonuses、taxes・social insurance、and dormitory fees separately when comparing。Even with the same monthly pay、conditions vary depending on working hours and deductions。
Distinguish historical statistics from current job offer terms。For Specified Skilled Workers、pay must be equal to or higher than the pay of Japanese workers with equivalent skills・experience。
3-2 Working hours, work location, and shifts
Work is at intermediate waste treatment facilities。Check the proportion of indoor・outdoor work、types of waste handled、noise・dust precautions、and whether there is shift work。Working conditions vary by facility。
3-3 What to Check in a Job Posting
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.
Check whether the company and facility are covered by the system、your assigned intermediate treatment tasks、safety training、provision of protective equipment、and equipment safety measures。Not all collection・transport work is covered。Also check official guidance for when worker acceptance begins。
4-1 Tests Required for This Field
As a rule、JLPT N4 or higher or a JFT-Basic score of 200 points or higher assessed as A2.2（A2） is required。With only a JFT-Basic assessment of A1・A2.1、this requirement is not met。
Japanese・skills requirements vary by field and work category。In the exam information by field below、check the required Japanese proficiency、additional exams、driving licenses、work experience、and exemption requirements。
4-2 Skills Evaluation Test
According to the Ministry of the Environment、exam details will be announced once decided。As of 27 September 2026、exam dates・fees・the exam structure have not been confirmed。Check future official guidance。
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.