The number of Self-Defense Force personnel hired in fiscal year 2023 totaled 9,959, just 51% of the Defense Ministry’s target, the ministry announced on Monday.
The share of recruited SDF personnel fell by 15 percentage points from the previous year, reaching its lowest level ever.
The ministry had planned to recruit a total of 19,598 personnel for the ground, maritime and air SDFs in the 2023 budget year, which ended in March.
The recruitment rate fell 19 points to 69% for general personnel serving as core SDF members under a permanent contract system, and 13 points to 30% for personnel on temporary contracts. Both rates reached record lows since the introduction of the permanent and temporary contract systems in fiscal 2010 and fiscal 2007, respectively.
The latest results may reflect the country’s low birth rate, which has led to a decline in the youth population. The cases of intimidation that have come to light in the SDF are also likely another cause.
On Monday, a ministry panel met for the first time and decided to draw up a series of measures to boost the recruitment of SDF personnel by the end of August.
The panel, chaired by Defense Minister Makoto Oniki, will discuss a wide range of measures aimed not only at recruiting troops but also at administrative personnel.
Topics to be discussed during the panel include how to improve the benefits and overall attractiveness of the jobs, how to promote labor-saving and unmanned operations, for example through the use of artificial intelligence, and how to utilize external labor, such as former SDF troops and private sector personnel.
The Ministry plans to raise funds for such measures as part of the 2025 budget request.
“The situation (regarding recruitment of SDF personnel) is expected to remain difficult in the 2024 budget year and beyond,” Oniki told the meeting, stressing the ministry’s readiness to quickly come up with new measures.
