Japanese firms boost support for workers with disabilities

As hiring people with disabilities has become more common in Japan, many companies, especially large ones, are building personnel management frameworks that assume a diverse workforce.

They are rolling out a range of initiatives to address challenges such as career development and long-term retention for disabled employees.

People with disabilities accounted for 2.4% of employees at private-sector companies in 2024, or about one in 40 workers, according to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. The figure includes individuals with physical or intellectual disabilities, as well as those with mental illnesses, including mood and developmental disorders.