JR East Begins Training Foreign Nationals for Railway Maintenance Roles 👷‍♂️🌏

JR East has launched a training program for foreign nationals under Japan’s specified skilled worker system to combat labor shortages in the railway industry. 🛠️ Added to the program in March 2024, the railway sector now welcomes overseas talent, with JR East aiming to train around 100 individuals annually. The first batch of 25 trainees from Indonesia and Vietnam recently participated in sessions on rolling stock, track systems, and electrical facilities at a training center in Fukushima. 🎓 Those who pass the certification exam will begin work this summer, as Japan looks to address a projected 18,400-worker shortage by 2028.