It’s Naptime for Japan’s Convenience Stores

Prepare for the end of Japan’s 24-hour convenience stores.

In a country where deaths have outpaced births for several years and unemployment is a low 2.3 percent, it may not be surprising that finding people to work in convenience stores is tough. International students are an increasingly important source of manpower, but their temporary status creates significant churn. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has succeeded in bringing more women into the workforce, but they’re generally unwilling to work late-night shifts. A plan to issue visas for unskilled guest workers— a first for Japan—could attract more than 345,000 additional overseas workers by 2024. But they would be limited to jobs in 14 industries, including construction, elder care, and agriculture—not convenience retail.