Photo/Illutration Technical trainees from Indonesia learn the Japanese language in Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

Sixty-two percent of voters support the government’s policy of accepting more foreign workers in industries with labor shortages, up sharply from below 50 percent in 2018, an Asahi Shimbun survey showed.

The nationwide survey, conducted by mail from late February to early April, showed that 28 percent of respondents were against the policy.

In the previous survey conducted in November and December 2018, 44 percent of respondents supported the policy, while 46 percent opposed it.

Increases in approval were seen among all age groups, but the rises were particularly sharp among older respondents.

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In the 2018 survey, only 35 percent of people in their 60s were in favor of bringing in more foreign workers. The ratio jumped to 63 percent in the latest survey.

Among those 70 or older, the support ratio climbed from 38 percent to 62 percent.

Generational differences concerning the policy have nearly disappeared.

In the 2018 survey, 60 percent of respondents between 18 and 29 approved of the policy. The ratio is now 66 percent.

The government has revised its foreign worker system to allow more people into the country to address labor shortages in various industries. It also allows the workers to stay in Japan longer, along with their families, on permanent resident visas.

The latest survey asked respondents about their interest in the labor shortage issue.

Among those who answered “not very interested” and “not interested at all,” 40 percent opposed the policy to accept more foreign workers.

Fifty-seven percent of respondents supported the idea of “expanding permanent residency for foreign workers and their families,” while 33 percent opposed the idea.

In the 2018 survey, 47 percent disapproved of this policy, exceeding the 40 percent who agreed with it.

In the latest survey, 93 percent of those who “approve” the expansion of permanent residency also support the policy of accepting more foreign workers into Japan.

Among those who “disapprove” of permanent residency expansion, only 19 percent supported the acceptance of more foreign workers.

By gender, 48 percent of males between 18 and 29 were in favor in expanding permanent residency. Among female respondents in the same age group, 70 percent were supportive of expansion.

Among respondents 70 or older, 65 percent of males and 52 percent of females were in favor of expanding permanent residency.

There were also regional differences.

Among respondents living in Hokkaido, 70 percent were in favor of both expanding permanent residency and bringing in more foreign workers.

The ratio was 60 percent in the Kanto, Koshinetsu, Hokuriku, Tokai and Kyushu regions, and 50 percent in the Tohoku, Chugoku and Shikoku regions.

The latest survey was conducted by mail among 3,000 randomly selected voters nationwide. Valid responses totaled 1,962, or 65 percent.

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