More than 500,000 Vietnamese people live and work in Japan — the third-largest foreign workforce in the country. What are they doing? This article looks at the five most common jobs.
1. Food processing worker (食品製造)
Salary: ¥170,000 – ¥220,000/month
Recruiting route: Tokutei Ginou
- Work in packing, preparation and food processing plants
- Fixed shifts (usually days, or alternating day and night shifts)
- Clean environment with full protective equipment provided
- Requirements: good health, attention to detail, and the ability to stand for long periods
This industry has the largest number of Tokutei placements and suits people without specialist experience.
2. Agriculture (農業)
Salary: ¥160,000 – ¥200,000/month plus harvest bonuses
Recruiting route: Tokutei Ginou
- Planting, tending crops, and harvesting vegetables and fruit
- Usually in quiet rural prefectures (Nagano, Yamagata, Hokkaido)
- Accommodation is often provided in the farm owner's house — saving on housing costs
- Seasonal work, so income fluctuates
3. Nursing care (介護)
Salary: ¥190,000 – ¥250,000/month
Recruiting route: Tokutei Ginou, EPA (Economic Partnership Agreement)
- Supporting elderly people with daily life: bathing, meals, physiotherapy
- Higher Japanese requirement (N3 or above in practice)
- Highly respected in Japanese society — stable in the long term
- Offers a route to the Kaigo Fukushishi national professional qualification
4. Construction (建設)
Salary: ¥200,000 – ¥300,000/month
Recruiting route: Tokutei Ginou
- Building, installation and finishing work on residential and industrial projects
- The highest pay of any Tokutei industry
- Physically demanding, outdoor work
- Plenty of overtime available, increasing earnings
5. Food service (外食業)
Salary: ¥160,000 – ¥200,000/month
Recruiting route: Tokutei Ginou
- Serving, kitchen work and cashiering at restaurants and Japanese fast-food chains
- Requires JLPT N4 and good communication skills
- Usually afternoon and evening shifts — suits people who prefer flexible hours
- You learn a great deal about Japanese service culture (omotenashi)
Which job suits you?
Some suggestions based on personal strengths:
- You want stability, cleanliness and little Japanese: food processing
- You want outdoor work and the highest pay: construction
- You want meaningful, long-term stable work: nursing care
- You want a natural, quiet environment: agriculture
- You enjoy talking to people and learning Japanese culture: food service
Nexora partners with Japanese recruiting companies across all five of these industries. Get in touch for advice on a route based on your experience and what you want.