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Transport workers not classified elsewhere

How to become a Forklift Operator

Also called: Forklift Driver

Drives forklifts in warehouses, factories and elsewhere to move, load and unload goods.

Main tasks

Workers in this job say high school is common. From job tag's survey of people in each job, who could give several answers. It shows what workers see as common, not how many workers hold each level.

How to become one

To work as a forklift operator you must be 18 or older and hold the national forklift operation skills training certificate. If the job means driving on public roads, the employer must register the forklift as a special vehicle and get number plates, and the operator must get a separate small or large special vehicle driving licence, depending on the vehicle. New graduates are hired by warehouse or logistics companies and assigned to the forklift section. Experience and qualifications are not needed to join, and most people get the certificate after being assigned. After qualifying, you are coached by a team leader or similar, get used to the work on the job and are seen as fully capable once you have gained experience. By building skills and experience, some are promoted to team leader, supervisor and so on. Some move from the forklift section to other departments. There is an ongoing shortage of workers, so mid-career hiring, for example to fill vacancies, goes on all the time and there are many opportunities. Some people register with a staffing agency and work through it. Most hires used to be experienced, but more applicants now come from other industries, and like new graduates they get the certificate after joining. The job involves receiving goods, putting them in the right place and passing them on to the next stage, so you need to keep strictly to time. You also need to keep loading and unloading heavy goods accurately and quickly while driving and operating the vehicle, and to be careful enough to work safely without accidents.

Ways in

Pay · Job openings · AI and this job

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Forklift Operator?

To work as a forklift operator you must be 18 or older and hold the national forklift operation skills training certificate. If the job means driving on public roads, the employer must register the forklift as a special vehicle and get number plates, and the operator must get a separate small or large special vehicle driving licence, depending on the vehicle. New graduates are hired by warehouse or logistics companies and assigned to the forklift section. Experience and qualifications are not needed to join, and most people get the certificate after being assigned. After qualifying, you are coached by a team leader or similar, get used to the work on the job and are seen as fully capable once you have gained experience. By building skills and experience, some are promoted to team leader, supervisor and so on. Some move from the forklift section to other departments. There is an ongoing shortage of workers, so mid-career hiring, for example to fill vacancies, goes on all the time and there are many opportunities. Some people register with a staffing agency and work through it. Most hires used to be experienced, but more applicants now come from other industries, and like new graduates they get the certificate after joining. The job involves receiving goods, putting them in the right place and passing them on to the next stage, so you need to keep strictly to time. You also need to keep loading and unloading heavy goods accurately and quickly while driving and operating the vehicle, and to be careful enough to work safely without accidents.

How much does a Forklift Operator earn in Japan?

Average annual income in the private sector, bonus included, is ¥4,701,100 (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare). The figure is for the wage survey group Transport workers not classified elsewhere, which covers several jobs.

Do you need a degree to become a Forklift Operator?

Usually not. In this job's census occupation group, only 10% of workers are university graduates.

Will AI change the work of a Forklift Operator?

Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, by the ILO's global estimate.

Sources

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 解説系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_description_7_01.xlsx）ver.7.01 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 簡易版数値系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_numeric_7_00.xlsx）ver.7.00 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

Sources: JILPT Occupational Information Database download data via job tag (解説系 ver.7.01 and 簡易版数値系 ver.7.00, downloaded 4 October 2026), processed by Peernovo; MHLW, Basic Survey on Wage Structure 2025; Statistics Bureau of Japan, 2020 Population Census; MEXT, School Basic Survey 2025; MHLW, Employment Referrals for General Workers (Hello Work statistics). Figures processed by Peernovo. English job names, translations and the matching of jobs to statistical groups, schools and degree fields by Peernovo.

Updated 4 October 2026