On October 6, 2026, Japan's Immigration Services Agency updated its statistics on "Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) Category 1 projected intake and residents" as preliminary figures at the end of July 2026. SSW Category 1 residents totaled 432,016, or 53.6% of the 805,700 projected intake through March 2029 set by Cabinet decision on January 23, 2026. The increase over the year since July 2025 was 89,093.
Residents and Fill Rates by Sector
- Food Service: 49,290 residents / 50,000 projected = 98.6% filled; +12,107 over the year
- Food & Beverage Manufacturing: 101,922 / 133,500 = 76.3% (largest year-on-year increase among non-care sectors at +15,567)
- Construction: 52,366 / 76,000 = 68.9%
- Nursing Care: 81,436 / 126,900 = 64.2% (+24,402, the largest increase)
| Sector | Residents | Projected | Fill rate | YoY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nursing Care | 81,436 | 126,900 | 64.2% | +24,402 |
| Building Cleaning | 10,514 | 32,200 | 32.7% | +2,918 |
| Industrial Manufacturing | 63,032 | 199,500 | 31.6% | +10,768 |
| Construction | 52,366 | 76,000 | 68.9% | +7,937 |
| Shipbuilding & Marine | 11,693 | 23,400 | 50.0% | +900 |
| Auto Maintenance | 5,332 | 9,400 | 56.7% | +1,482 |
| Aviation | 2,823 | 4,900 | 57.6% | +968 |
| Accommodation | 2,771 | 14,800 | 18.7% | +1,341 |
| Auto Transport | 703 | 22,100 | 3.2% | +681 |
| Railway | 73 | 2,900 | 2.5% | +52 |
| Agriculture | 44,952 | 73,300 | 61.3% | +8,891 |
| Fisheries | 4,988 | 14,800 | 33.7% | +960 |
| Food & Beverage Mfg. | 101,922 | 133,500 | 76.3% | +15,567 |
| Food Service | 49,290 | 50,000 | 98.6% | +12,107 |
| Total | 432,016 | 805,700 | 53.6% | +89,093 |
The table shows 14 major sectors (the annual increase is the difference between end-July 2025 and end-July 2026 residents, preliminary). Newer sectors remain tiny: Forestry 19 / 900 (2.1%), Wood Industry 99 / 4,500 (2.2%), and Linen Supply 3 / 4,300 (0.1%); Logistics Warehousing (projection 11,400) and Resource Recycling (900) have no residents yet.
Food Service Nears Its Cap
Food Service has 49,290 residents against a 50,000 projection, leaving only 710 slots. The Agency has suspended Certificate of Eligibility issuance for the Food Service sector since April 13, 2026, and the new figures show how tight intake has become.
Practical Points
- Employers considering new Food Service hires should confirm the issuance suspension remains in place; the sector is nearly at its cap and a restart is uncertain
- Sectors with high fill rates — Construction (68.9%), Nursing Care (64.2%), Food & Beverage Manufacturing (76.3%) — may eventually face intake limits
- The projection covers the period through March 2029; once Ikusei Shuro begins in April 2027, intake caps will be managed together with SSW
For SSW registered-support and intake procedures, contact Sakura Central Legal Office (MOJ-certified application agent).