Japan's Aging Population
In April 2025, Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs revealed an alarming trend: Japan’s population has declined for the 14th consecutive year. As of October 2024, the total population — including foreign residents — stood at 123.8 million, down by 550,000 from the previous year. Among these, 120.3 million were Japanese nationals — a decrease of 900,000 in just one year.
Even more concerning:
- 30% of Japan’s population is now aged 65 or older (a record high).
- Only 11.2% are under 15 years old, the lowest proportion ever recorded.
Although immigration contributed a net increase of 340,000 foreign residents (marking the third consecutive year of positive social growth), Japan’s aging workforce remains a critical issue. Japan’s ageing population poses significant economic challenges, highlighting the urgent need for a young, skilled workforce to sustain its industries. This demographic shift necessitates innovative solutions to balance the workforce and support economic growth
To tackle this, the Japanese government has launched various initiatives — increasing childcare support, raising young workers’ wages, and even offering matchmaking services. However, meaningful impact will take years. Meanwhile, a major opportunity has emerged for countries like Pakistan to step in and support Japan’s skilled labour shortage.
Japan’s TITP Program: An Opportunity for Pakistan
In 1993, Japan launched the Technical Intern Training Program (TITP) to transfer skills to developing countries through on-the-job training. Realistically, TITP has evolved into a pathway to supplement Japan’s shrinking workforce. Pakistan — the world’s 5th largest country by population, with more than 60% under the age of 30 — should have been a major beneficiary. Yet, progress has been disappointing. Despite signing a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) with Japan in February 2019, Pakistan has only managed to send 123 interns in six years, compared to:
- Vietnam: 203,977 interns
- Indonesia: 87,090 interns
- Philippines: 37,914 interns
- Myanmar: 31,069 interns
- China: 26,780 interns
- Cambodia: 14,913 interns
- Thailand: 12,025 interns
- Pakistan: 123 interns
(Data as of June 2024
Why Has Pakistan Lagged Behind?
Key barriers include:
- Bureaucratic delays
- Lack of commitment and non-serious attitude from 88 approved “Sending Organisations”
- Inefficiencies within Ministries (OE&HRD, FE&PT, MOFA), and other TVET Organisations like NAVTTC, TVETAs for not preparing the interns to meet the standards of Japanese industry and Supervision Organizations
- Non-availability of institutes capable of imparting Japanese language and culture training
- Delayed response from the Japanese government agencies to take decisions
What Pakistan Needs to Do — Immediately
✅ Establish a One-Window Facilitation Centre: Set up a streamlined operation under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to cut red tape.
✅ Activate the Embassy of Pakistan in Japan: Accelerate visa processing and resolve documentation hurdles in collaboration with Japanese authorities.
✅ Launch a Nationwide Awareness Campaign: Educate youth about TITP’s benefits at the individual and national level.
✅ Expand Japanese Language and Culture Training: Open more JLPT N4/N5 training centres, engaging native Japanese instructors where possible.
✅ Certify and Upskill Interns Quickly: Leverage TVET institutes and universities to certify skills and offer gap training programs.
✅ Set Aggressive Placement Targets: Aim to send at least 5,000 interns by December 2025 to Japan.
Final Thoughts
Pakistan stands at a crossroads: It can either allow bureaucratic hurdles to waste its greatest asset — its youth — or it can transform its demographic advantage into real economic growth. Seizing the TITP opportunity is not just about sending workers abroad. It’s about empowering a generation, enhancing skills, boosting remittances, and strengthening Pakistan-Japan relations. The time to act is now