Operating margins at Japan's listed construction and logistics firms will expand by more than 50 basis points by March 2027, even without new capital investment.

The labour ministry is replacing its blanket 45 hour overtime cap with individualised, health-based inspection, easing pressure on firms whose Article 36 special clause agreements legally permit overtime up to 100 hours a month. With job openings still exceeding applicants and skilled labour scarce, firms can now extend existing staff's hours instead of paying higher recruitment and training costs to hire, turning a compliance easing into a one-time margin lever.