The Japanese government is stepping up efforts to recruit care workers from abroad as the country faces increasingly severe labor shortages.

The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry estimates that the number of caregivers in Japan stood at about 2.15 million people in fiscal 2022. It says 2.72 million workers will be needed by fiscal 2040, which means a shortfall of around 570,000 people is likely under the current conditions.

The ministry had expected to secure more than 50,000 caregivers from abroad through the specified skilled worker program by last fiscal year. But the Immigration Services Agency said over 39,000 people were permitted into Japan with that status as of this August.

To address the shortages, the ministry has begun a subsidy program to help private firms recruit care workers overseas.

The ministry earmarked 270 million yen, or about 1.7 million dollars, for these efforts in the current year's supplementary budget. They include providing up to 500,000 yen, or about 3,200 dollars, to each firm to assist in building relations with foreign schools and organizing recruitment campaigns, such as job fairs.