The impact of COVID-19 has brought unprecedented change to the world of work in Japan. As organisations continue to brave against the hurdles presented, it is vital they understand that the expectations and perceptions of professionals towards them have also been transformed by the crisis. In order to attract and retain the very best talent in the new era of work, businesses must adapt their approach to attracting, engaging and motivating professionals, says the CEO of recruiting experts, Hays.

These are some of the findings from The Inside Story of Japan, a monthly regional recruitment analysis undertaken by global recruitment expert Hays. Focusing on the IT contracting sector, the analysis found that owing to the current market, IT contracting talent focused on infrastructure-related functions like servers, networks and service desks are currently most in demand, alongside project managers and IT consultants.

While many organisations in Japan have returned to work, the sustained need and demand for remote working options amidst the ongoing pandemic has led to the emergence of hybrid working models – where workforces are split between those in the office and those working remotely. This will present various challenges for HR departments, says recruiting experts Hays.

The ongoing remote working revolution is not only changing the way organisations function, but also the way they hire. Many organisations in Japan are now interviewing remotely, which has led to faster and more efficient hiring processes. However, with remote working likely to become a permanent fixture in the new world of work, businesses are increasingly facing the challenge of communicating their employer brand to potential employees they are interviewing through virtual means.

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.

As Japan continues to gradually resume activity in the wake of COVID-19, many businesses are still working towards regaining normalcy. According to Luca Pozzi, General Manager of global manufacturing firm Manuli Hydraulics in China and Southeast Asia, strategic staff management plays a critical role in how quickly businesses can return to pre-crisis levels of productivity.

The massive shift in traditional corporate tools and structures to support remote working in the wake of COVID-19 has kept Japan’s tech sector buoyant despite market uncertainty. Considering the chronically candidate short market, professionals in the fields of cloud technology and support are the need of the hour and form a critical source of revenue for the tech sector now more than ever.

The global COVID-19 crisis has already transformed the world of work, with much of its impact still unfolding. As the situation continues to develop and the road to recovery is expected to be a long one, business leaders and professionals must adapt and be agile to the challenges that are presented to them on a daily basis, with valuable lessons to be learned along the way.

Recruiting experts, Hays, has conducted a poll of over 1,400 people globally to find out their concerns around returning to their place of work following the end of lockdown restrictions and the changes they expect to happen in the world of work as a direct result of the pandemic.

As countries around the world continue in their battle against COVID-19 at varying stages, in China, the worst appears to have been overcome. Today, most of China’s businesses are gradually resuming operations, providing the world with an invaluable frame of reference as they prepare to return to work.