Japan firms turn to robots as labour shortage bites

Tokyo

DESPERATE to overcome Japan's growing shortage of labour, mid-sized companies are planning to buy robots and other equipment to automate a wide range of tasks, including manufacturing, earth-moving and hotel-room service.

According to a Bank of Japan (BOJ) survey, companies with share capital of 100 million yen (S$1.23 million) to one billion yen plan to boost investment in the fiscal year that started in April by 17.5 per cent, the highest level on record.

It is unclear how much of that is being spent on automation but companies selling such equipment say their order books are growing…