Foreign Help Wanted: Easing Japan’s Labor Shortages

ByGiovanni Ganelli, Naoko Miake

July 30, 2015

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Disclaimer: This Working Paper should not be reported as representing the views of the IMF.The views expressed in this Working Paper are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent those of the IMF or IMF policy. Working Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to further debate

Summary

Data and anecdotal evidence suggest that Japan is suffering from labor shortages, which are large in an international perspective, have a negative impact on potential growth, and reduce the effectiveness of monetary and fiscal stimulus. This paper focuses on policy options to ease Japan’s labor shortages. In particular, we focus on possible measures to increase reliance on foreign labor. Other policy recommendations to deal with shortages include policies aimed at increasing female labor participation, encouraging wage growth, increasing investment, as well as training and other active labor market policies.

Subject: Foreign labor, Labor, Labor force, Labor markets, Labor shortages, Migration

Keywords: admission policy, Beveridge curve, easing Japan, Foreign Labor, foreign worker, Global, housekeeping support worker, Labor force, Labor markets, Labor Shortages, Pacific Islands, policies Towards Foreign worker, policy option, political economy, skill recognition, skilled worker, training worker, worker, WP

Pages:
21
Volume:
2015
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5089/9781513530642.001
Issue:
181
Series:
Working Paper No. 2015/181
Stock No:
WPIEA2015181
ISBN:
9781513530642
ISSN:
1018-5941

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