The government has set out a policy of securing supply capacity over the short, medium and long term to support factory construction in growth sectors such as AI and semiconductors, and has launched a task force led by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. The government is expected to compile a policy package by the end of the year covering support for identifying challenges faced by both project owners and contractors, as well as workforce development.
The government has set out a policy of securing construction-sector supply capacity to support capital investment in growth sectors, taking both short-term and medium- to long-term measures into account. It established a task force led by the three ministries and has consolidated the challenges recognized by project owners and contractors, along with its response policy. Project owners involved in semiconductor plants and other facilities have said that insufficient supply capacity, resulting in higher costs and longer construction periods, has become a bottleneck for investment.
As a first step, the government will quickly establish mechanisms to secure the necessary workforce based on an assessment of individual projects. It will compile by the end of the year a policy package covering reskilling support, expanded eligibility for education and training benefits, a review of the Construction Industry Retirement Allowance Mutual Aid Scheme, promotion of DX, and use of the variable working hours system.
There is a strong concern about insufficient supply capacity in industrial sectors such as semiconductors and data centers, with shortages of engineers working for electrical and HVAC subcontractors and in design and construction management viewed as the biggest bottleneck. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, taking into account the views of prime general contractors, also emphasized bringing forward measures to prevent rework and promoting prefabrication and off-site processing.
Specific measures under consideration to secure the workforce needed immediately include establishing an individual consultation framework, recruiting workers across industry lines, facilitating the transfer of workers from other fields, and easing procedures for employing foreign engineers. Measures to address mismatches between supply and demand across regions are also being considered.