Reading Public statistics on workforce development

Figures you can cite when proposing training inside your organisation. All from primary public sources, each with source, survey year, base and retrieval date.

A number alone says nothing. Seen together with who asked, when and whom, it becomes evidence you can use in an internal discussion. Each card stands alone — take only the ones you need.

Statistics

Establishments reporting problems with workforce development

Figure 80.1%

Source
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW), FY2025 Basic Survey of Human Resources Development, establishment survey (summary of results), PDF p.24, Fig. 35 (establishments with problems in human resource development) (in Japanese)
Survey year
FY2025 (as of 1 October 2025)
Base
Establishments responding to the establishment survey (7,194 establishments surveyed, valid response rate 54.2%, 30 or more workers in continuous employment (常用労働者))
Retrieved
2026-09-22

How to read Check how “problem” is defined and the size of responding establishments. If there is a breakdown for your size, cite that.

Shortage of people who can teach others

Figure 59.5%

Source
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW), FY2025 Basic Survey of Human Resources Development, establishment survey (summary of results), PDF p.24, Fig. 36 (breakdown of problems in human resource development, multiple answers) (in Japanese)
Survey year
FY2025 (as of 1 October 2025)
Base
Establishments reporting some problem with skills development or human resource development (not all respondents); multiple answers
Retrieved
2026-09-22

How to read “Shortage” is a self-reported answer. Its meaning shifts with who answered — HR or the frontline.

Spending on education and training

Figure 45.5% (no spending) / 54.4% (spending) / average OFF-JT spend per worker 20,000 yen

Source
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW), FY2025 Basic Survey of Human Resources Development, enterprise survey (summary of results), PDF p.1 Fig. 1 (spending status); PDF p.2 Fig. 4 (average OFF-JT spend per worker) (in Japanese)
Survey year
FY2025 survey; spending recorded for FY2024
Base
Enterprises responding to the enterprise survey (7,452 enterprises surveyed, valid response rate 52.6%, 30 or more workers in continuous employment (常用労働者)); the per-worker average covers enterprises that spent in FY2024
Retrieved
2026-09-22

How to read Per person, or per establishment? Confirm the denominator before comparing.

Shortage of people to drive DX

Figure 62.1% (severely lacking); severely plus somewhat lacking: 85.7% in total

Source
Information-technology Promotion Agency, Japan (IPA), discussion paper “DX Trends 2024: the worsening shortage of people to drive DX and its challenges” (DX Trends 2024 survey), PDF p.3 (printed p.1) Chart 2-1; sample size and survey period on PDF p.21 (printed p.19) (in Japanese)
Survey year
Survey conducted 9 February – 2 May 2024 (labelled FY2023 in the charts); paper published 2024
Base
“Survey and analysis of DX promotion in enterprises”: 1,013 responses (Japanese companies; respondents at manager level or above)
Retrieved
2026-09-22

How to read The definition of “DX talent” differs by survey. Quote it together with the definition sentence.

Self-directed learning

Figure 35.5% (all workers) / regular employees 43.3% / non-regular employees 15.9%

Source
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW), FY2025 Basic Survey of Human Resources Development, individual survey (summary of results), PDF p.53, Fig. 77 (workers who undertook self-development, by employment type, sex, education and age group) (in Japanese)
Survey year
FY2025 survey; activity recorded for FY2024
Base
Workers responding to the individual survey (20,127 surveyed, valid response rate 43.9%; workers in continuous employment (常用労働者) at the surveyed establishments)
Retrieved
2026-09-22

How to read Company-supported or self-funded learning? Check the questionnaire wording.

Each card stands alone and can be removed individually.

Three checks before you cite a figure

1

Look at the denominator

A percentage means different things depending on what it is a share of: establishments, employees or respondents.

2

Look at the survey year

Publication year and survey year can differ. Align survey years when comparing.

3

Do not claim causation

Statistics describe a situation. They do not show that training causes an improvement. Use them internally to share the current picture.