Severe Shortage of Mid-Career Talent in Japan's Recruitment Market – Companies Expand Recruitment Efforts to Close Skill Gaps –

According to the latest survey conducted by Hays Specialist Recruitment Japan in its '2026 Hays Asia Salary Guide,' 89% of Japanese companies have experienced skill shortages in the past 12 months.

**Key Findings of the Survey**
- Mid-career talent is the most difficult to recruit: 55% of companies struggle to hire for mid-level positions.
- Demand for human skills and transferable skills (portable skills) is expanding: 'Communication and interpersonal skills' (48%) are the most sought after.
- The biggest factor contributing to skill shortages is a lack of training and development: pointed out by 41% of companies.
- Organizational support for AI utilization is limited: only 32% of companies provide training and support for AI tool implementation.

**Mid-career positions are the most difficult to recruit**
According to the '2026 Hays Asia Salary Guide,' 55% of companies cited mid-career professionals, primarily general employees, as the most difficult positions to secure (multiple responses allowed), followed by manager/director level (48%) and executive level (16%).
Against this backdrop, Japanese companies' willingness to recruit is further increasing. This year, 60% of recruitment managers plan to increase headcount, a significant rise from 39% in the previous year (2025).

**Demand for human skills continues to rise**
In Japan, demand for human skills and general-purpose skills remains high. When asked about the most needed soft skills (select up to 3), 'communication and interpersonal skills' was cited by 48% of companies, followed by 'problem-solving skills' (29%) and 'adaptability to learning and reskilling' (27%).
As work becomes more sophisticated and cross-departmental collaboration progresses, coordination skills and flexible communication among stakeholders are becoming more important than ever. In an environment where change and uncertainty are constant, these skills are indispensable for driving business.

**Lack of training and development accelerates skill shortages**
On the other hand, the growing demand for these skills intensifies competition for limited ready-to-work talent. When asked about the main causes of skill shortages in the industry (select up to 3), 'lack of training and development' was cited by 41% of companies, followed by 'competition for talent with other companies' (40%) and 'salary levels' (30%).
This result indicates that insufficient investment in human resource development directly impacts the recruitment market, and companies are intensifying recruitment competition in search of immediately effective talent.

**AI utilization progresses, but organizational support lags**
The survey also revealed that while AI utilization is already widespread among business professionals working in Japan, corporate support systems are not yet sufficient. While 74% of business professionals reported already using AI technology in their work, only 32% of companies provide training and support for AI utilization.
Nevertheless, individual attitudes are positive. 81% of business professionals expressed willingness to participate in skill improvement programs for AI utilization.

**Comment from Grant Torrens, Managing Director:**
"In Japan, the skill shortage among mid-career professionals remains the most prominent, and companies are further intensifying their recruitment activities to fill critical talent gaps. These positions require specialized knowledge, problem-solving abilities, and strong communication skills, but such talent remains limited.
Furthermore, as job roles become more advanced and complex, human skills such as communication, adaptability, and eagerness to learn continue to be central elements in recruitment. Their importance is increasing, especially in an environment of continuous change and uncertainty.
On the other hand, despite the rapid progress in AI tool utilization in Japan, systematic training and organizational support are not yet fully established. This indicates that the required skills and the nature of daily work are rapidly changing across the entire labor market."

The latest '2026 Hays Asia Salary Guide' can be downloaded here.

Hays Asia Salary Guide

**Survey Overview of Employment Reality**
Survey period: October to November 2025
Survey method: Internet
Respondents: 13,372 professionals from 5 countries/regions in Asia
Breakdown: China 2,273, Hong Kong SAR 1,070, Japan 3,744, Malaysia 4,012, Singapore 1,738, Others 535

**About Hays**
Hays (Headquarters: UK) is a global specialist recruitment company providing talent services. As of December 31, 2025, it has 198 offices in 30 countries/regions (total employees approximately 9,100).