Zenken Hosts Successful Skills Matching Event for Indonesian Care Workers in Jakarta

On August 27 and 28, 2025, Zenken Corporation conducted a significant skills matching event near Jakarta, Indonesia. This initiative was aimed at utilizing the specific skills immigration system in Japan, aimed at connecting Indonesian candidates who aspire to work as care staff with Japanese nursing facilities. Approximately 150 candidates and seven Japanese companies participated in what turned out to be one of the largest events organized by Zenken to date.

Event Highlights and Outcomes

During the event, representatives from seven Japanese care facilities engaged with a carefully selected group of around 150 skill candidate participants. Each company showcased their operational details and the attractive aspects of their facilities, while candidates passionately shared their experiences and aspirations for working in Japan. This dynamic interchange fostered a thriving atmosphere of engagement.

As a result of the two-day event, numerous matching opportunities emerged, marking a crucial milestone for Indonesian candidates eager to contribute to Japan's care sector. Participating companies expressed their satisfaction, with comments like, "We were struggling to hire care staff, but many candidates were interested in joining us," and, "We were able to meet individuals we genuinely want to recruit.” Feedback from candidates included remarks such as, "I had been hoping to work in Japan, and it was beneficial to speak face-to-face rather than online," and, "I now have a clearer image of working in Japan."

Background: Intensified Competition and Demand for Reliable Recruitment

The childcare sector in Japan faces significant challenges due to an aging population, with forecasts from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare predicting a shortfall of around 690,000 care workers by 2040. With the competition to acquire domestic care workers intensifying, there is growing interest in hiring foreign caregivers.

The Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) program has enabled candidates from Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam to come to Japan as trainees. Although this program has been in place for over ten years, its cap on annual admissions has led to increased competition for talent. To address these challenges, Zenken leveraged its unique network to organize the skills matching event tailored for specific skill candidates.

Since the introduction of the Indonesian Specific Skills program in nursing care in 2019, which has no upper limit on the number of positions, the number of Indonesian caregivers residing in Japan has steadily increased, surpassing 9,000 as of June 2024, according to the Immigration Services Agency of Japan. Moreover, the maximum duration of stay under the specific skills program is five years, compared to the four years under the EPA, allowing for longer employment.

Future Prospects: Comprehensive Support from Recruitment to Retention

To ensure the smooth arrival and integration of the matched Indonesian professionals in Japanese care facilities, Zenken pledges to support various visa application processes and procedures. Additionally, through programs like "ZENKEN NIHONGO Care", the company will assist these workers in obtaining national qualifications as certified care workers. Zenken aims to provide continued support for long-term career development and successful retention within Japan's workforce.

In the coming years, Zenken plans to actively host more matching events overseas, contributing to the resolution of the labor shortages in the Japanese care sector.

About Zenken’s Overseas Care Worker Initiatives

Zenken serves as a registered support organization, assisting foreign workers under the specific skills program. In Indonesia, Zenken has established exclusive contracts with two care worker dispatch organizations and collaborates with the National Skill Development Corporation of India, training hundreds of specific skill candidate workers each year. From language education like "ZENKEN NIHONGO Care" to national examination preparation courses, Zenken offers a holistic suite of services: introducing and matching overseas care workers, Japanese language education, acceptance support, employment tracking, and retention assistance.

For more information, please visit Zenken's website.