Japan Raises Minimum Disability Employment Rate to 2.7 Percent

Japan raised the statutory minimum employment rate for people with disabilities to 2.7 percent from 2.5 percent on July 1. Japan Times reported that less than half of companies had reached the previous 2.5 percent threshold. Only 46 percent of firms attained the rate according to welfare ministry data.

The number of people with disabilities employed by Japanese corporations reached 704,610 in 2025, a record for the 22nd consecutive year. A welfare ministry report released in February called for improving the quality of such employment. A ministry panel is now discussing measures including guidelines for companies.

Nomura Kagayaki, a special subsidiary of Nomura Holdings, handles mail sorting, document digitization and message card creation for group companies. The number of departments consigning work to it rose fivefold to 108 in fiscal 2025. In the fiscal year ending March 2026 the subsidiary introduced a transfer system allowing employees to move to other Nomura group companies.

“We want to support career development by providing options so that employees with ability and motivation can continue to play an active role,” Nomura Kagayaki President Mio Nakama said. Aflac Heartful Services, a special unit of Aflac Life Insurance Japan, has added novelty goods design to its document-enclosing operations and is considering opening a cafe for Aflac employees.

Some companies that have missed the rate for years cite difficulty assigning work matching employees’ abilities.

More firms are turning to outside services that place disabled workers in separate environments on tasks disconnected from core operations. The welfare ministry report noted these arrangements can limit career development and run counter to the goal of integrated workplaces.