Japanese Companies Face 2.7% Disabled Hiring Quota as Only 46% Meet Minimum

1 articles · Updated · The Japan Times · Jul 6

Japan raised the statutory minimum employment rate for people with disabilities to 2.7% from 2.5% on Wednesday, increasing pressure on companies that already lagged the old threshold.
Only 46% of companies met the minimum rate even before the hike, despite disabled employment at corporations reaching a record 704,610 in 2025 — the 22nd straight annual increase.
Nomura Kagayaki and Aflac Heartful Services are widening roles beyond routine support work, with Nomura lifting departments outsourcing tasks to its unit fivefold to 108 and adding transfers into group companies.
The push is shifting from headcount alone to job quality, as companies increasingly use outside services that can isolate disabled workers from core operations and limit career development.
A February welfare ministry report urged better-quality employment, and a ministry panel is now weighing measures including corporate guidelines.