Discover the most in-demand jobs for 2025
Organisations are prioritising the need for skilled employees to tackle future challenges
71% of organisations in Japan faced moderate to extreme skill shortages in 2023. 38% of hiring managers surveyed for our 2025 Salary Guide attributed this to a competitive hiring landscape, with companies vying for limited talent resources. This competition is set to continue in 2025, with 56% of businesses expecting to increase their headcount, a notable rise compared to 2024.
We wanted to give job candidates a preview of the most in-demand roles for businesses this year. We spoke to our recruiting experts to learn why these roles are currently experiencing high demand.
Japan’s top ten in-demand jobs for 2025 are:
Contents
IT Project Manager
What does an IT Project Manager do?
IT Project Managers are responsible for planning, executing, and closing IT projects to meet organisational objectives. These professionals develop detailed project plans to guide project execution, manage resources to ensure project needs are met, identify and mitigate project risks to avoid potential issues.What skills does an IT Project Manager need?
Professionals in this role are expected to have strong organisational skills, proficiency in project management software, and a deep understanding of IT systems and processes. They should also possess excellent communication and problem-solving skills to address project challenges, strategic thinking to align projects with business goals, and leadership abilities to manage and motivate project teams.Why are IT Project Managers in-demand today?
There is a significant shortage of IT professionals in Japan, projected to reach approximately 430,000 by 2025, up from 170,000 in 2015. This includes project and change management positions, which is seeing heightened demand as organisations strive to adapt to market changes and digital trends to stay relevant.- Masaru Tsukamoto, Regional Director
IT Consultant
What does an IT Consultant do?
IT Consultants are responsible for providing expert advice and solutions to organizations to help them optimise their IT infrastructure and achieve their business goals. These professionals assess the current IT environment to identify areas for improvement, design tailored IT solutions to meet business needs, implement these solutions effectively, communicate with clients to understand their requirements and provide training to ensure clients can effectively use new systems.
What skills does an IT Consultant need?
Professionals in this role are expected to have strong analytical skills, proficiency in various IT systems and technologies, and a deep understanding of industry best practices. They should also possess excellent communication and problem-solving skills to address client needs, strategic thinking to develop effective IT solutions, and the ability to work collaboratively with clients and other stakeholders.
Why are IT Consultants in-demand today?
IT Consulting roles have seen heavy competition in the industry, driven by the lack of skilled professionals capable to taking on the job. Consequently, qualified candidates can command higher salary packages compared to their peers within other specialisms.
- Masaru Tsukamoto, Regional Director
Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A) Manager
What does an FP&A Manager do?
A Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A) Manager is a professional responsible for overseeing the financial planning, budgeting, and forecasting processes within an organisation. These professionals develop and manage financial plans to align with organisational goals, create and monitor budgets to control costs, forecast future financial performance to guide business planning, conduct financial analysis to identify trends and opportunities, and communicate financial insights to stakeholders to support decision-making.
What skills does an FP&A Manager need?
Professionals in this role should possess excellent communication skills to convey complex financial information clearly, strategic thinking to align financial plans with business objectives, and the ability to work collaboratively with various departments to achieve financial goals. Firms today seek FP&A professionals skilled in data analytics, including SQL and Python, with proficiency in tools such as PowerBI, Looker, and Tableau for creating reporting dashboards.
Why are FP&A Managers in-demand today?
Finance functions have become increasingly integral to strategic decision-making in Japan. FP&A roles are evolving to focus more on strategy, data analysis and visualisation instead of traditional number crunching. Talent fulfilling these prerequisites can be difficult to come by today, and qualified candidates are well-positioned to negotiate for better salary and benefits from employers.
- Jair Riley, Team Manager for Accountancy & Finance
Senior Compliance Officer
What does a Senior Compliance Officer do?
Senior Compliance Officers help to ensure that an organisation adheres to legal standards and internal policies. These managers play a vital role in maintaining the integrity and ethical standards of the organisation by overseeing compliance programs and mitigating risks.
What skills does a Senior Compliance Officer need?
Candidates are expected to have a thorough understanding of regulatory requirements and industry standards, strong analytical skills to assess compliance risks, excellent communication skills to educate and train employees, and attention to detail to ensure accurate monitoring and reporting. Additionally, they should possess strong ethical standards, the ability to work independently and collaboratively, and a commitment to staying updated on changes in laws and regulations.
Why are Senior Compliance Officers in-demand today?
Senior compliance officers are in demand in Japan due to the increasing complexity of financial regulations and the need to combat financial crimes such as money laundering and cybercrime. The limited availability of talent with the necessary skills and language proficiency further drives the demand for these specialised roles
- Jair Riley, Team Manager for Accountancy & Finance
- Jair Riley, Team Manager for Accountancy & Finance
HR Business Partners (HRBP)
What does a HRBP do?
An HRBP is a strategic role responsible for aligning human resources practices with business objectives to drive organisational success. These professionals play a key role in fostering a productive and engaged workforce by partnering with business leaders and providing expert HR guidance.
What skills does a HRBP need?
Professionals in this role are expected to have a deep understanding of HR practices and business operations, strong analytical skills to assess workforce needs, excellent communication and interpersonal skills to build relationships with stakeholders, and the ability to influence and drive change. Additionally, they should possess strategic thinking abilities, a proactive approach to problem-solving, and a commitment to fostering a positive organisational culture.
Why are HRBPs in-demand today?
The demand for bilingual HR professionals in Japan is increasing, with global firms requiring more fluency in Japanese while Japanese companies seek foreign candidates who speak Japanese as part of their DE&I plans. Organisations are exploring hybrid roles today which see HRBP responsibilities being combined with HR operations, talent acquisition or learning & development, reducing headcount in favour of more flexibility. Specialists in this field are in high demand, making it challenging to find suitable candidates which consequently drives salary ranges for such positions higher.
- Yuna Kim, Manager for Human Resources
Quality Engineer
What does a Quality Engineer do?
A Quality Engineer is a professional responsible for ensuring that products and processes meet established quality standards and regulatory requirements. These professionals play a crucial role in maintaining product quality, improving manufacturing processes, and ensuring customer satisfaction.
What skills does a Quality Engineer need?
Professionals in this role are expected to have strong analytical skills, proficiency in quality management tools and techniques, and a deep understanding of manufacturing processes and quality standards. They should also possess excellent problem-solving skills to address quality issues, attention to detail to ensure accuracy, and the ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams to achieve quality objectives.
Why are Quality Engineers in-demand today?
Quality engineers are in demand in Japan due to the country's strong focus on manufacturing excellence and the need to maintain high standards in production processes. The growth of advanced industries such as automotive, electronics, and renewable energy requires skilled professionals to ensure product quality and compliance with international standards.
- Hiroaki Takahashi, Senior Manager for Engineering
Key Account Manager
What does a Key Account Manager do?
Key Account Managers develop strategic account plans to achieve business objectives, drive sales growth by identifying and capitalising on opportunities, resolve client issues to ensure satisfaction, negotiate contracts to secure favourable terms, and prepare performance reports to track account progress and inform management.
What skills does a Key Account Manager need?
Professionals in this role are expected to have strong interpersonal skills, proficiency in CRM software, and a deep understanding of sales and account management principles. They should also possess excellent communication and negotiation skills to engage effectively with clients, strategic thinking to develop and execute account plans, and the ability to work collaboratively with internal teams to deliver exceptional service to key clients.
Why are Key Account Managers in-demand today?
Sales positions in Japan have seen an increase in demand, especially in IT, service, hospitality and FMCG sectors which face significant labour shortages. Local companies are key drivers of this demand, and are expected to be investing in hiring more sales personnel up until summer. Among the available roles, Key Account Managers are particularly valuable for their ability to manage and nurture relationships with clients.
- Akiyoshi Tsutsumi, Manager for Sales
Pharmaceutical Sales Manager
What does a Pharmaceutical Sales Manager do?
Pharmaceutical Sales Managers develop and execute sales strategies, build customer relationships, and ensure compliance with industry regulations. These individuals lead and motivate sales teams to achieve targets, analyse market trends to identify opportunities, build and maintain relationships with healthcare professionals and key stakeholders.
What skills does a Pharmaceutical Sales Manager need?
Professionals in this role are expected to have strong leadership skills, proficiency in sales management software, and a deep understanding of the pharmaceutical industry and market dynamics. They should also possess excellent communication and negotiation skills to engage effectively with clients and stakeholders, strategic thinking to drive sales growth, and the ability to inspire and manage their teams to achieve high performance.
Why are Pharmaceutical Sales Managers in-demand today?
Japan’s position as a leading consumer market for pharmaceuticals has also contributed to the high demand for sales professionals to serve the increasing demands of an aging populate that is turning more and more to health and lifestyle products to remain healthy. Sales Managers in particular are crucial towards helping organisations achieve sales targets and drive revenue growth for pharmaceutical products.
- Shiho Yoshida, Senior Manager for Life Sciences
Insurance Distribution Sales Executive
What does an Insurance Distribution Sales Executive do?
Insurance Distribution Sales Executives are responsible for selling insurance products and services to clients, ensuring they have the coverage they need to protect their assets and manage risks. These professionals identify and reach out to potential clients, assess their insurance needs, present suitable insurance products, close sales to meet targets, provide ongoing customer service to ensure client satisfaction, and ensure compliance with insurance regulations and company policies.
What skills does an Insurance Distribution Sales Executive need?
Professionals in this role are expected to have strong interpersonal skills, proficiency in sales and customer relationship management (CRM) software, and a deep understanding of insurance products and market trends. They should also possess excellent communication and negotiation skills to effectively engage with clients, strategic thinking to identify and capitalise on sales opportunities, and the ability to work independently and as part of a team to achieve sales goals.
Why are Insurance Distribution Sales Executives in-demand today?
Japan’s aging society has also led to increased demand for pension and whole life insurance among the populace. Sales representatives with expertise in retirement planning and asset management are highly sought after to help drive these products.
Customer Service Specialist
What does a Customer Service Specialist do?
Customer Service Specialists are frontliners who provide support and assistance to customers, ensuring their inquiries and issues are resolved efficiently and satisfactorily. They interact with customers through various channels to address inquiries and concerns, and resolve issues promptly to ensure customer satisfaction.
What skills does a Customer Service Specialist need?
Professionals in this role are expected to have strong communication skills, proficiency in customer relationship management software, and a deep understanding of the company's products and services. They should also possess excellent problem-solving skills to address customer issues effectively, empathy to understand and respond to customer needs.
Why are Customer Service Specialists in-demand today?
The talent pool for this function remains as broad as ever, providing organisations a wealth of options to choose from and allowing them the luxury of scaling salaries lower in favour of better benefits. However, positions requiring bilingual proficiency continue to be difficult to fill due to a lack of candidates who meet such requirements.
- Setsuko Shimauchi, Manager for Office Professionals
Looking for more recruitment insights?
Our 2025 Salary Guide features in-depth analysis for jobs that are in demand across 15 different specialisms in Japan, China, Hong Kong SAR, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. Get updates on the latest recruitment challenges organisations face today, and how professionals can stand out from the competition. Learn how salaries have changed over the past year, and how much you can expect to earn in your position today.
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