Japan eyes Karnataka’s skilled workforce to bridge skilled professionals shortage

Highlighting a critical need for skilled professionals across sectors, Nakane Tsutomu, Consul-General of Japan in Bengaluru, emphasized the urgency of upskilling technical and specialty course students in Karnataka.

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During a meeting with Karnataka’s Medical and Skill Development Minister Dr. Sharan Prakash Patil at Vikasa Soudha on Wednesday, Tsutomu revealed that Japan is facing a severe workforce shortage—particularly in healthcare, IT, and technical trades—and is keen on recruiting talent from the state.

“Japan is grappling with an aging and declining population. By 2030, the IT sector alone is expected to face a shortfall of 790,000 professionals,” he noted. “In addition to white-collar experts, there is a pressing demand for skilled blue-collar technicians.”

Tsutomu underscored a growing need for nurses and shared that Japanese companies in Bengaluru are prepared to offer Japanese language and skill training under CSR initiatives to facilitate smoother placement of local nursing graduates.

Minister Dr. Patil stated that the Karnataka government is already working to enhance the employability of ITI and diploma students through focused upskilling. He announced plans to introduce foreign language training—including Japanese, German, and English—with an emphasis on global placement opportunities. A delegation from the department will soon visit Japan to study its workforce model.

The Consul-General further outlined Japan’s demand across sectors such as industrial manufacturing, construction, shipbuilding, machinery maintenance, auto repair, aviation, hospitality, transportation, railways, agriculture, fisheries, aquaculture, food services, forestry, and wood processing.

“Japan is ready to collaborate with Karnataka to create a pipeline of skilled professionals,” he said, signaling a deeper Indo-Japanese cooperation in workforce development.