This page provides information useful for choosing a job, such as job types available in the wood industry, job duties, required Japanese language ability, skills exams, and the current number of workers.
The wood industry field was added to Specified Skilled Worker in 2024 to accept foreign workers for lumber, plywood, laminated wood, and wood processing. Many jobs are in factories, and machine operation, quality checks, and safety knowledge are important.
The Immigration Services Agency regularly compiles and publishes the number of foreign nationals staying in Japan under Specified Skilled Worker status. New fields added in 2024 have only been in operation for a short time, so the number of residents is still small.
As of the end of December 2025, 15 people are working under Specified Skilled Worker (i) in the “Wood Industry” field. Wood industry is a new field added in 2024, and the number of foreign residents under Specified Skilled Worker (i) was 15 as of the end of December 2025. It has increased from 2 in the previous period, but acceptance is still in the early stage because the system is new.
The Specified Skilled Worker system began in 2019. Automobile transportation business, railway, forestry, and wood industry were added in 2024, so the numbers may change as more tests are held, companies prepare to accept workers, and residence status applications increase.
source : 出入国在留管理庁（https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/policies/ssw/nyuukokukanri07_00215.html）
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 different.
The Technical Intern Training Program is a system for learning technologies and skills in Japan and using them to help develop the home country after returning. In principle, changing jobs is not allowed, and the period is fixed. The program is planned to shift to the Training and Employment System, but during the transition period, you also need to check how the current system is handled.
The Specified Skilled Worker System accepts foreign workers with certain skills and Japanese language ability as job-ready workers in fields with serious labor shortages in Japan. Under Specified Skilled Worker (i), you can work for up to 5 years in total, and changing jobs is possible if conditions are met, such as staying in the same field or job category.
Automobile transportation business, railway, forestry, and wood industry, which were added in 2024, are currently covered by Specified Skilled Worker (i). They are not covered by Specified Skilled Worker (ii), so if you want long-term work, check system changes and the conditions for other residence statuses.
2-1 Job Description
Under Specified Skilled Worker “Wood Industry,” workers are involved in work such as sawmilling, plywood manufacturing, laminated wood manufacturing, and wood processing.
Main Jobs in Wood Industry
Work to process logs into boards, square timber, and other materials. This includes machine operation, size checks, sorting, and drying.
Work to make board materials by layering and gluing thinly cut wood. This includes gluing, pressing, and inspection.
Work to glue wood together and make strong materials. This includes processing, gluing, finishing, and quality checks.
Work to process wood products and building materials. This includes cutting, drilling, finishing, and packing.
Check the latest information from the responsible ministry and test organization for details on the work and acceptance conditions.
source : Official Information（https://www.prometric-jp.com/ssw/test_list/archives/26）
2-2 Differences by work category
In the wood industry, workers handle lumber production, plywood production, laminated wood production, wood processing, and similar tasks. Work includes processing logs into boards and square timber, bonding thin wood sheets to make boards, and cutting, drilling, finishing, and packaging wood.
2-3 Knowledge and Japanese needed for work
In wood factories, Japanese is needed for wood types, dimensions, cutting, drying, bonding, inspection, machine operation, safety devices, emergency stops, dust, protective equipment, and similar items.
3-1 How to read salary and take-home pay
The average wage for SSW workers in this field may not be clear from published statistics alone. Pay varies by job category, region, working hours, night shifts, overtime, experience, and qualifications. When reviewing a job, check estimated take-home pay, overtime pay, dormitory fees, social insurance, and transportation costs in addition to base salary.
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
The wood industry is mainly factory work. Check machine operation, standing work, noise, dust, rotating shifts, and whether there is overtime. Safety training and protective equipment are also important.
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.
For job offers, check whether the work is lumber, plywood, laminated wood, or wood processing, whether machine operation is required, dust control, protective equipment, rotating shifts, dormitory fees, safety training, and overtime.
4-1 Tests Required for This 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 Wood Industry SSW (i) Skills Assessment Test has reservation and test information published on Prometric. The test includes written and practical parts, and checks knowledge such as wood processing and safety and hygiene. For study texts, check official information from the Forestry Agency and other official sources.
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.