Gakujo Survey: Companies Mainly Target Late-20s to Early-30s Talent for Career Hiring

Gakujo Co., Ltd., headquartered in Chuo-ku, Tokyo, conducted an online survey of HR managers at companies and organizations regarding target groups and expectations in career hiring. The top target age groups for career hiring were people in their late 20s and early 30s, both exceeding 80%, followed by people in their early 20s at nearly 70%. The findings show that most companies mainly target people in their 20s, particularly “young career” talent with at least three years of work experience, as well as young professionals up to their early 30s. In hiring people in their 20s for career-track roles, the most sought-after experience was “experience that can be applied to the position being hired for,” at 38.8%. Combined with “experience in the same industry or business category,” at 23.2%, these responses accounted for more than 60%. This indicates that many companies are seeking young talent with a certain level of practical work experience. Key topics: 1. The main target groups for career hiring are, in order, people in their late 20s, early 30s, and early 20s. 2. More than 60% of companies hiring people in their 20s place importance on a certain level of work experience. As competition for new graduate hiring intensifies, more companies are strengthening career hiring, or experienced hiring, of younger workers. This survey examined the age groups targeted for career hiring and the experience companies expect from candidates. When asked which age groups they target for career hiring, with multiple answers allowed, 85.8% of companies selected people in their late 20s, the highest share. This was followed by people in their early 30s at 80.0%, early 20s at 68.7%, and late 30s at 60.4%. Fewer than half of companies sought candidates in their 40s or older. The results suggest that most companies center their hiring strategy on people in their 20s, especially young career professionals with three or more years of employment history, and candidates up to their early 30s. Among companies conducting career hiring of people in their 20s, 38.8% said they seek experience that can be applied to the position being hired for, the top response. This was followed by experience in the same industry or business category at 23.2%, bringing the combined total to more than 60%. The results show that many companies emphasize a certain level of work experience. Meanwhile, 24.0% said they require general working experience, while only 14.0% said they do not require it. The survey was conducted from March 16 to April 10, 2026, by Gakujo Co., Ltd. The respondents were HR managers at companies and organizations, with 295 valid responses collected through an online questionnaire. Figures are rounded to one decimal place, so totals for single-choice responses may not add up to exactly 100.0%. Gakujo is a Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime-listed company and a member of Keidanren. Since 2004, it has advocated year-round hiring of people in their 20s. The company supports recruitment of people in their 20s and 30s through services including Re Shukatsu, a career-change site for people in their 20s with 2.8 million members; Re Shukatsu 30, a direct recruiting service for people in their 30s; and Re Shukatsu Campus, a scout-based job-hunting site with 600,000 members. Gakujo also says it was the first in Japan to hold joint company seminars and offers various services for hiring young talent, including Tenshoku-haku and Shushoku-haku events.