KUALA LUMPUR - More than 80 per cent of facilities providing services for people with disabilities in Japan are grappling with staff shortages, largely driven by wages that lag behind those in other sectors, according to a recent survey.

The study by Kyosaren, the Japan Association of Community Workshops for Disabled Persons, found that 84.2 per cent of 3,142 facilities surveyed between August and October 2025 reported shortages ranging from slight to severe.

Many respondents said the lack of workers has increased pressure on existing staff and led to a decline in the quality of care provided, as reported by Japan Today.

Lower wages compared with other industries were cited by 81.9 per cent of facilities as the main obstacle to recruitment, while 59.1 per cent pointed to a shortage of candidates with suitable skills or qualifications.

Several facilities said they were unable to accept people with severe disabilities who require one-to-one assistance due to insufficient staffing.

Small-scale providers also reported financial constraints that made it difficult to hire and retain workers.

Kyosaren urged the government to boost funding for disability welfare services, even as the welfare ministry noted that related state spending has quadrupled over the past 19 years.

“We are receiving calls of distress from facilities, and the people who would be most affected by deteriorating services are users,” said Hiroshi Ono, executive director of Kyosaren.

Public spending on people with disabilities in Japan remains between 0.7 per cent and 1.2 per cent of gross domestic product, well below the OECD average of around 2.0 per cent, the group said.

“In order to improve the quality of disability welfare in Japan, it is essential to ensure the stable operation of welfare facilities capable of providing people with disabilities the necessary and sufficient support,” Kyosaren said.