8 TRENDS THAT ARE IMPACTING HIRING IN JAPAN RIGHT NOW

The COVID-19 crisis has ushered in a new era in the world of work that is impacting both jobseekers and hiring organisations. Speaking on behalf of Hays consultants who are on the ground interacting with businesses and candidates every day, Richard Eardley, Managing Director of Hays in Japan shares 8 trends that are currently impacting recruitment in Japan:

1. Remote Working is here to stay 

“Organisations are increasingly seeing a need for long-term remote access or work from home solutions,” says Richard. “Many believe staff are likely to continue a preference for more flexible ways of working even after the pandemic is over, while others see it as protection against any future crises.” The proliferation of remote working has also led to faster and more efficient hiring processes as interviews are now conducted virtually. Some interview steps are even being skipped, such as the previously mandatory face to face “kaoawase” with CEOs.

2. Digital revolution spurs IT demand

“Technical pre-sales and implementation roles are seeing sustained demand from IT hardware and software vendors as a result of more organisations buying software/cloud and hardware solutions to function more efficiently, both internally and externally, when working remotely,” says Richard. “Similarly, hiring for IT Consulting positions within consulting firms has continued at a fair pace with new demand coming from organisations looking to upgrade their IT systems and infrastructure.”

3. Banking & Finance remain cautious but optimistic

Hiring within Banking & Finance organisations has slowed in recent months as the majority have adopted a gradual and cautious outlook to stay abreast of market developments. “However, most are looking to put their annual hiring plans back on track,” says Richard, “beginning with hiring in priority areas like cybersecurity and big data.” There has also been continued growth within the e-payments sector and a subsequent steady stream of roles in the sector.  

4. Cybersecurity & Big Data become critical functions

“As more businesses shift to digital ways of working, eliminating and preparing against cyber threats has become a key priority,” says Richard. “This has led to high demand for cybersecurity professionals like forensics specialists. Similarly, movement restrictions in the country and around the world have led to a boom in e-commerce and delivery services. As a result, demand for Big Data specialists like Data Scientists, Data Engineers and Data Analysts has increased as they help organisations manage customers and their data more efficiently.”

5. The role of HR is expanding 

The role of HR has expanded in both Japan and the world in recent months. “Among the C-suite, HR business partners are becoming more involved in helping leaders prioritise and make decisions amidst uncertainty.,” says Richard. On the execution level, HR operations have had to quickly digitalize their functions and transactions – which were previously done through paper forms and stamps – to add more value,

6. IoT and AI technologies assist in crisis management

“Artificial intelligence and IoT technologies are seeing newfound growth in Japan as seamless solutions to crisis-based problems,’ says Richard. “AI and devices connected to the internet are being introduced to nursing care, where there is a chronic shortage of caregivers due to the ageing population and the way the pandemic has restricted face-to-face contact.” New AI technologies are also being developed to analyse images from cameras and assess crowd density in public spaces. “This recent pickup will undoubtedly lead to exciting movement within these spaces in the months to come,” he says.  

7. Employee wellbeing needs a holistic approach

With more employees working remotely than ever before, employee wellbeing has become paramount for talent retention strategies. “Diversity & Inclusion functions are being tapped on to provide training and data analytics into the workforce, reflecting the various working environments and conditions employees face at home,” says Richard. “Flexibility and mental health are also becoming increasingly critical elements in ensuring the health and safety of employees is maintained, along with their ability to remain effective at their jobs.”

8. Proactive and agile candidates are in high demand

“Certain soft skills will also grow in prominence as a result of the crisis, such as being adaptable to change, having a self-starter mindset and being proactive in creating new processes,” says Richard. Companies are now looking for candidates who can take initiative, as the existing corporate culture in Japan is more community-based and hierarchical in nature, requiring frequent and explicit permission from seniors before any action has taken. “This has become more difficult when working remotely, which will create a demand for more sub-team leaders who can be entrusted with the responsibility of leading a few employees,” he says.

“While the recent period of crisis has been challenging for both job seekers and organisations alike, the direction of its resulting changes remains definitively positive. As we move towards a more digitalised workplace and expanded, hybrid functions, a key strategic priority for businesses at this time should be to ensure their employees and managers are equipped with the right skills to not just endure but thrive in the new world of work,” he concludes.