HR Directors in Japan say change management to play a bigger part of role according to latest Hays study
- 44 per cent of HRDs in Asia and 31 per cent of HRDs in Japan expect designing and managing organisational change to become a bigger part of their role over the next five years.
- Stakeholder engagement has overtaken strategic planning as the most critical skill for success, cited by 40 per cent of respondents in Japan.
- Organisational politics remains the top hurdle for 43 per cent of HRDs in Japan, while 19 per cent report difficulty finding opportunities for career growth.
- Japan stands out for its distinctive approach to HR leadership, with 36 per cent of HRDs espousing stakeholder engagement as a top quality for candidates aspiring to the role.
New research from Hays reveals that Human Resource Directors (HRDs) across Asia are evolving into strategic change leaders, moving beyond compliance to become catalysts for organisational transformation.
The DNA of a HRD report, based on 271 interviews with senior HR professionals across China, Hong Kong SAR, Japan, Malaysia, and Singapore, highlights a decisive shift in priorities and skills shaping the modern HRD.
HRDs embrace change and influence, face their own barriers to growth
HRDs in Japan are stepping into a new era of leadership, where influence and adaptability are as critical as technical expertise. 44 per cent of HRDs in Asia and 31 per cent of HRDs in Japan expect designing and managing organisational change to become a bigger part of their role over the next five years. This marks a clear shift from traditional talent retention strategies to a proactive focus on transformation.
Stakeholder engagement has emerged as the most essential skill for success, cited by 49 per cent of respondents in Asia, a notable rise from 43 per cent in 2017 and overtaking strategic planning as a critical skill for the role. Commercial acumen follows closely behind at 39 per cent, and remains a top skill required by candidates aspiring to the role.
Despite these advancements, challenges remain. Organisational politics continues to be the most common barrier, reported by 43 per cent of HRDs in Japan, while 19 per cent of professionals cite a lack of opportunity for career progression. To stay ahead, HRDs are doubling down on professional development: 39 per cent keep up to date with industry and legislative changes, and 44 per cent attend networking events. Digital platforms play a pivotal role in this effort, with LinkedIn continuing to be the dominant networking channel (84 per cent).
Japan: Relationship-driven leadership meets adaptability in a changing world
Japan’s HR leaders demonstrate a distinctive approach to the HRD role, placing strong emphasis on stakeholder engagement and adaptability. 36 per cent of HRDs in Japan believe establishing stakeholder engagement to be a top quality for the next generation of HRDs aspiring to the role.
Conversely, only 28 per cent in HRDs in Japan selected commercial awareness, compared to 51 per cent of HRDs across our survey. Adaptability also ranks highly, cited by 40 per cent of respondents, reflecting the need to pivot quickly in a market balancing tradition with rapid transformation.
Grant Torrens, Managing Director at Hays Japan:
“Japan’s HR leaders are operating at the intersection of tradition and transformation. Stakeholder engagement and adaptability are fundamental to driving organisational success.”
“These relationships have long been at the heart of workplace culture in Japan. When HR leaders invest in building authentic connections, they lay the groundwork for collaboration, alignment, and ultimately, meaningful transformation.”
“For those aspiring to become HR Directors, there’s an important takeaway: building strong stakeholder relationships is a cornerstone for success in Japan. Embracing this approach early creates the space to lead change with confidence and collaboration, making the journey to the top both smoother and more rewarding.”
Contact
Hays Japan Marketing Team
T: 03-4565-5953
E: Natsuko.Arai@hays.co.jp
T: 03-4565-5953
E: Natsuko.Arai@hays.co.jp
About Hays Japan
Hays Specialist Recruitment Japan KK ("Hays Japan"), established in Tokyo in 2001, is one of the largest foreign recruitment companies in Japan with three offices across the country (Tokyo Head Office, Osaka and Yokohama).
At Hays Japan, our experts provide professional services across the private sector, dealing in permanent positions, contract roles, recruitment process outsourcing (RPO), Managed Service Programmes (MSP) and IT solutions in the following 13 specialisms: Accountancy & Finance, Banking & Financial Services, Engineering, Marketing & Digital, Human Resources, Insurance, Legal, Life Sciences, Office Professionals, Property, Sales & Marketing, Supply Chain and Technology. This ensures a highly focused, fully tailored specialist recruitment service, enabling us to power the future of work by serving thousands of companies and candidates in Japan. Hays Japan is recognised as a Great Place to Work® by the esteemed Great Place to Work® Institute Japan, the global authority on workplace culture. We continue to strengthen our position in Asia with the world-leading ISO 9001:2015 certification in all our operational markets including Japan, China, Hong Kong SAR, Malaysia, and Singapore.
At Hays Japan, our experts provide professional services across the private sector, dealing in permanent positions, contract roles, recruitment process outsourcing (RPO), Managed Service Programmes (MSP) and IT solutions in the following 13 specialisms: Accountancy & Finance, Banking & Financial Services, Engineering, Marketing & Digital, Human Resources, Insurance, Legal, Life Sciences, Office Professionals, Property, Sales & Marketing, Supply Chain and Technology. This ensures a highly focused, fully tailored specialist recruitment service, enabling us to power the future of work by serving thousands of companies and candidates in Japan. Hays Japan is recognised as a Great Place to Work® by the esteemed Great Place to Work® Institute Japan, the global authority on workplace culture. We continue to strengthen our position in Asia with the world-leading ISO 9001:2015 certification in all our operational markets including Japan, China, Hong Kong SAR, Malaysia, and Singapore.
About Hays
Hays plc (the "Group") is the world’s leading specialist in recruitment and workforce solutions, such as Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) and Managed Service Provider (MSP). The Group is the expert at recruiting qualified, professional, and skilled people worldwide, being the market leader in the UK, Germany, and Australia and one of the market leaders in Continental Europe, Latin America, and Asia. The Group operates across the private and public sectors, dealing in permanent positions, contract roles and temporary assignments. As of 30 June 2025, the Group employed over 9,900 staff operating from 207 offices in 30 countries. For the year ended 30 June 2025:
- the Group reported net fees of £972.4 million and operating profit (before exceptional items) of £45.6 million.
- the temporary placement business represented 62% of net fees and the permanent placement business represented 38% of net fees.
- Technology is the Group’s largest division, with 25% of net fees, while Accountancy & Finance (15%) and Engineering (11%), are the next largest.
- Hays operates in the following markets: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Hong Kong SAR, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UAE, the UK, and the USA.