Statistics compiled by the Japanese government show that the number of foreign workers in the country hit a record high last year, surpassing 2.3 million.

Since 2007, as part of efforts to improve working conditions for foreign workers, the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry has required employers to report new foreign hires to local ministry offices.

The ministry says that as of October 31 last year, the latest figure available, there were 2,302,587 foreign workers in Japan.

That's an increase of 12.4 percent from the same period the previous year, marking a record high for the 12th straight year.

By country of origin, Vietnam accounted for about a quarter of the total, at 570,708. It was followed by China with 408,805 and the Philippines with 245,565.

In terms of year-on-year growth, Myanmar saw the largest increase at 61 percent, followed by Indonesia at 39.5 percent and Sri Lanka at 33.7 percent.

Of the total, around 207,000 foreign workers hold the status of "specified skilled worker." This system, introduced in 2019, grants resident status to foreigners certified as having specialized skills in 16 designated fields, such as construction and nursing care.

The ministry attributes the continued increase in foreign workers to a labor shortage in the country, particularly in fields such as healthcare, nursing care and construction.