What Is CCUS? An Explanation of How It Works, Its Benefits, and How to Record Work History

Getting Started

In the construction industry, securing the next generation of workers has become a major challenge amid a labor shortage and an aging workforce of skilled workers.

To that end, it is important to properly evaluate the skills that skilled workers have acquired and the experience they have gained on the job, and to use that evaluation to improve their working conditions.

It is against this backdrop that the “Construction Career Up System (CCUS: C-CAS)” has been implemented.

Some of you may have heard the term “CCUS,” but might not be entirely sure what it means.

This article provides an easy-to-understand explanation of the basic mechanisms of CCUS, its current adoption status, the benefits of implementing it, and how to register your work history.　

Table of Contents

• What is CCUS?
• Launch of CCUS
• Status of CCUS Adoption
• Information Registered in CCUS
• Benefits of Utilizing CCUS
• Registration with CCUS is optional
• How to Record CCUS Work History
• Key Considerations When Choosing a Card Reader
• "EasyPass EP-02" CCUS-Compatible Card Reader
• Conclusion

What is CCUS?

CCUS is a system that registers and stores information—such as construction workers’ certifications and on-site work histories—across various industries.

The goal is to record data on the certifications held by skilled workers and the types of work sites where they have gained experience, and to use this information to evaluate them based on their skills and experience.

In the construction industry, workers often change companies or job sites, which has made it difficult to objectively verify the experience that skilled workers have accumulated over time.

By utilizing CCUS, skilled workers can continue to build up their certifications and employment history even if they change companies or work sites.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism is promoting the widespread adoption of CCUS in collaboration with construction industry organizations, with the aim of ensuring that young skilled workers can foresee their future careers and compensation, receive appropriate recognition commensurate with their skills and experience, and that companies that hire and train skilled workers are recognized for their efforts.

Launch of CCUS

CCUS began accepting registration applications in 2018 and commenced full-scale operations in April 2019.

Since the system’s launch, its scope of application has expanded beyond the registration of skilled workers and contractors to include the accumulation of on-site work history, the assessment of skilled workers’ abilities, and collaboration with the Construction Workers’ Retirement Fund.

A system has also been established to evaluate skilled workers' abilities on a four-tier scale based on their certifications and work history stored in CCUS. This system is also used to visualize career paths, showing how skilled workers can advance as they gain experience.

Status of CCUS Adoption

The number of CCUS registrants and the volume of CCUS usage have continued to increase since the program began.

The usage statistics as of the end of July 2026, as published by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, are as follows.

Item	Usage Status
Number of Registered Technicians	Approximately 1.89 million people
Number of Registered Businesses	Approximately 315,000 companies
Total Number of Employment Histories	Approximately 283 million cases

The number of registered skilled workers accounts for approximately 60 percent of the roughly 2.96 million skilled workers in the construction industry. Of the approximately 315,000 registered businesses, about 109,000 are sole proprietorships.

Not only are skilled workers and businesses registering, but there is also a growing trend of accumulating actual work history on the job.

Going forward, it is expected that it will become even more important not only to verify whether individuals are registered , but also to ensure that CCUS is being used continuously on-site and that the work histories of skilled workers are being properly documented.

Information Registered in CCUS

To use CCUS, both the business operator and the technician must register.

1. Key Information Registered by Businesses

When registering as a business, you will provide the following information:

• Basic Information, Such as Company Name and Location
• Construction Industry Licensing Information
• Social Insurance Enrollment Status
• Information on Affiliated Organizations, etc.

Once registration and review are complete, a business ID will be issued.

2. Key Information That Skilled Workers Must Register

When registering as a skilled worker, you will provide the following information:

• Personal information, such as name and date of birth
• Affiliated Company
• Certifications Held
• Social Insurance Enrollment Status
• Health Checkup Participation Rates
• Work History at the Site

Once registration and screening are complete, you will be assigned a Skilled Worker ID and issued the “Construction Career Advancement Card,” which is an IC card featuring a photo.

By using this card at your workplace, you will accumulate a record of your daily work hours.

Benefits of Utilizing CCUS

CCUS offers benefits not only to skilled workers but also to the employers who hire them and the general contractors who manage the job sites.

(1) It will become easier to verify skilled workers' qualifications and experience

A major benefit for skilled workers is that they can compile their qualifications and on-site work history as objective information. Even if they change employers or work sites, their past experience remains on CCUS, making it easier to demonstrate their skills and career history.

② Leads to evaluations and improved working conditions based on skill level

CCUS has established a system to evaluate skilled workers’ competencies on a tiered basis, based on factors such as certifications held and days worked. By making skills and experience transparent, this system is expected to lead to appropriate compensation—including wages and allowances commensurate with ability. In fact, an increasing number of companies are providing unique allowances based on CCUS competency evaluations.

③ It will be easier to check information on skilled workers

This will make it easier for businesses to verify skilled workers’ certifications and employment status. Since they can determine whether workers hold the necessary certifications for the job site and what kind of experience they have, this information can also be used for staffing and training skilled workers.

Registration with CCUS is optional

CCUS is not a system under which all construction contractors and skilled workers are uniformly required by law to register.

However, depending on the type of construction project or the role of the skilled worker, registration with CCUS or the use of its services may be required.

In addition, for public works projects undertaken by the national and local governments, initiatives are underway to provide incentives—such as bonus points in project performance evaluations—for projects that utilize CCUS.

Since general contractors may require CCUS registration as part of their on-site operating rules, you must check the contract terms for the project you are participating in and the general contractor’s policies to determine whether it is actually required.

How to Record CCUS Work History

In CCUS, simply registering businesses and skilled workers does not automatically accumulate their on-site work history.

The general contractor must register the job site on CCUS, and skilled workers must register records of their work at that site.

A common method involves a skilled worker holding their Construction Career Advancement Card up to a card reader installed at the job site.

The basic process is as follows:

1. The general contractor registers site information with CCUS
2. Install CCUS-compatible card readers at the site
3. A skilled worker swipes their Construction Career Advancement Card
4. Card information is read
5. Employment history is sent to and stored in CCUS

By establishing the practice of swiping cards on-site, we can continuously accumulate a record of when and where each technician worked.

However, the records generated when a CCUS card is swiped differ in purpose from the attendance management conducted by the company. Since the available features vary depending on the card reader model and the integrated system, it is necessary to verify this before implementation.

Key Considerations When Choosing a Card Reader

There are several types of CCUS-compatible card readers, and they differ in terms of required equipment, communication methods, and installation requirements.

When considering on-site operations, please check the following points.

① Do I need a computer or peripherals?

Some models require connection to a computer or tablet, while others have built-in communication capabilities and do not require these devices.
It is important to choose a model based on the installation location and whether on-site staff will be able to operate it on a daily basis.

② Is it compatible with the network environment?

An Internet connection is required to send employment history to CCUS.
If there is no landline or Wi-Fi connection available on-site, consider using devices that support mobile data.

③ Can a power source be secured?

Depending on the device, you may need to plug it into an outlet or charge its battery.
Be sure to check whether there is a power source at the installation site and how long the device will last on a single charge.

④ Is it suitable for the on-site operating environment?

When installing the device outdoors or in a semi-outdoor location, it is necessary to verify its dust- and drip-resistant performance, as well as temperature requirements.
We also take into account the on-site environment, such as whether the device can be installed in a location where cards can be easily swiped and whether it is protected from rain and dust.

⑤ Is it complicated to operate or install?

Even if you install a card reader, if it’s complicated to set up or operate, it may not catch on in the field.
It’s important to choose equipment that’s easy to understand not only for on-site staff but also for the technicians who actually swipe their cards.

"EasyPass EP-02" CCUS-Compatible Card Reader

Our company offers the "EasyPass EP-02" card reader—which supports the registration of CCUS work history—for rent.

The EasyPass EP-02 is a device that allows skilled workers to register their work history at construction sites by swiping their Construction Career Advancement Card.

Instead of purchasing a card reader, it’s convenient because you can use it for only as long as you need, depending on your specific situation.

　

Conclusion

CCUS is a system designed to register and store the qualifications and on-site work histories of construction workers, thereby enabling the appropriate evaluation of their skills and experience.

Full-scale operations began in April 2019, and as of the end of July 2026, approximately 1.89 million skilled workers and about 315,000 businesses were registered.

By utilizing CCUS, skilled workers will find it easier to verify their qualifications and experience, and for businesses, it will lead to more efficient verification of worker information and site management.

In addition, to continuously record work history on-site, it is necessary to set up an environment where devices such as card readers can be used.

We offer the CCUS-compatible card reader "EasyPass EP-02" for rent.
Please feel free to contact us for information regarding on-site installation, required equipment, and how to use the device.