The Labor Ministry has recently released a report on the status of disabled workers’ employment. Private businesses with 43.5 or more employees are legally required to ensure 2.3% of their employees are disabled workers. This article discusses details of the status of disabled workers’ employment.
[1] Employment of disabled workers and achievement of legal employment rate
The number of people with disabilities being employed by private companies with 43.5 or more employees, which are subject to the legal requirement, was 642,178.0. The figure increased by 28,220.0 from the previous year and marked a record high. While the employment of individuals with all types of disabilities is on the rise, companies are particularly boosting hiring of those with mental disabilities.
Workers with physical disabilities 360,157.5 (up 2,390 from the previous year)
Workers with intellectual disabilities 151,722.5 (up 5,296.5 from the previous year)
Workers with mental disabilities 130,298.0 (up 20,533.5 from the previous year)
More than half of the companies now meet the legal employment rate, with the rate rising to 50.1%. Following is the status by company size.
Number of employees Percentage (percentage in the previous year)
43.5 or more and less than 100 47.2% (45.8%)
100 or more and less than 300 53.3% (51.7%)
300 or more and less than 500 46.9% (43.9%)
500 or more and less than 1,000 52.4% (47.2%)
1,000 or more 67.5% (62.1%)
[2] Administrative instruction to expand hiring of workers with disabilities
According to the latest data, the actual employment rate of disabled workers is 2.33%. The figure has been rising steadily over the past 20 years. Companies with low actual employment rate receive instructions of the Hello Work public employment security office to achieve the required rate. The following is the status of administrative instructions given in fiscal 2022.
Issuance of an order to draft an employment plan of disabled workers: 244 companies
Recommendation to make correction in the employment plan of disabled workers: 94 companies
Special instructions: 55 companies
With the legal employment rate of disabled workers raised to 2.5% in April 2024, companies are advised to make continued efforts to hire workers with disabilities and support them to stay in the jobs and meet the legal standard.
[Reference]
Labor Ministry, “Summary of company reports on the status of employment of disabled workers”
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/newpage_36946.html
*The information is based on laws and regulations as the date of this article.
