Reason for Career Recruitment of People in Their 20s: 'Insufficient Young Talent from New Graduate Recruitment Alone' is Top. Expectations After Joining: Over 80% for 'Mid- to Long-Term Asset,' Long-Term Success Over Immediate Productivity. [Company Survey]

Gakujo Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo) conducted an internet questionnaire survey targeting HR personnel of companies and organizations regarding career recruitment for people in their 20s, including experienced professionals and second-year new graduates. The most common reason for conducting career recruitment for people in their 20s was "because new graduate recruitment alone cannot sufficiently fill the need for young talent." "To strengthen career recruitment," which was the top reason in the previous year's survey, dropped to second place. It seems that an increasing number of companies are struggling with new graduate recruitment and are turning to career recruitment for young talent. The most prominent expectation after joining the company was "to become a mid- to long-term asset (to work for a long time with the premise of training)" at over 80%. "Sincerity" came in second, surpassing "becoming productive sooner than new graduates." Both indicate a growing trend for companies to view new graduates and young career professionals as an integrated "young talent recruitment in their 20s" due to intensified competition for talent acquisition through lump-sum new graduate recruitment.

[TOPICS]

(1) Top reason for career recruitment of people in their 20s is "because new graduate recruitment alone cannot sufficiently fill the need for young talent."

(2) Expectation after joining is "mid- to long-term asset" at a prominent 84.0%, emphasizing long-term success over immediate productivity.

[Background of the Survey]

Amid intensifying competition for talent acquisition through lump-sum new graduate recruitment, an increasing number of companies are strengthening career recruitment for young professionals (experienced recruitment). This survey investigated the reasons for conducting career recruitment targeting people in their 20s and their expectations after joining the company.

(1) Top reason for career recruitment of people in their 20s is "because new graduate recruitment alone cannot sufficiently fill the need for young talent."

When companies conducting career recruitment targeting people in their 20s were asked about their reasons (multiple answers allowed), "because new graduate recruitment alone cannot sufficiently fill the need for young talent" accounted for 48.0%, making it the most common reason, chosen by almost half of the companies. "To strengthen career recruitment," which was the top reason in the previous year's survey with a narrow margin, came in second at 44.0%. It appears that more companies are struggling with new graduate recruitment and are thus engaging in career recruitment for young talent. This was followed by "to compensate for staff shortages" at 38.4% and "to revitalize the organization" at 38.0%.

(2) Expectation after joining is "mid- to long-term asset" at a prominent 84.0%, emphasizing long-term success over immediate productivity.

Regarding expectations for career professionals in their 20s after joining the company (multiple answers allowed), "to become a mid- to long-term asset (to work for a long time with the premise of training)" was a remarkably high 84.0%. "Sincerity" came in second at 44.4%, and "becoming productive sooner than new graduates" was third at 42.0%, with the rankings having shifted from the previous year's survey. This was followed by "bringing a fresh perspective to the company" at 36.0% and "new ideas, opinions, and proposals unique to the younger generation" at 30.4%. This indicates that in career recruitment for people in their 20s, many companies expect long-term contributions to compensate for new graduate shortages rather than immediate productivity.

■ Survey Overview

・Survey Period: March 16, 2026 - April 10, 2026

・Survey Organization: Gakujo Co., Ltd.

・Survey Target: HR personnel of companies and organizations

・Valid Responses: 295 cases

・Survey Method: Web questionnaire survey

*Numbers for each item are rounded to one decimal place by rounding off the second decimal place, so the total for multiple-choice answers may not always be 100.0%.

■ About Gakujo Co., Ltd.

A company listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime and a member of Keidanren. Since 2004, it has advocated "20s year-round recruitment." It is a major job search and recruitment information company that comprehensively supports the recruitment of people in their 20s and 30s, centered on "Re-Shukatsu" (7 consecutive years No. 1 job change site for people in their 20s, chosen by people in their 20s, and a specialized job change site for people in their 20s, based on Tokyo Shoko Research surveys from 2019-2025, with 2.8 million members), "Re-Shukatsu 30" (direct recruiting service for people in their 30s), and "Re-Shukatsu Campus" (scout-type job search site with 600,000 members).

Furthermore, it was the first company in Japan to hold "Joint Company Seminars" (company's own research) and offers various services related to the recruitment of young talent, such as "Tenshoku Haku" and "Shushoku Haku."

[Founded: 1976 Capital: 1.5 billion JPY Affiliated organizations: Japan Business Federation, Japan Association for Employment Information, Japan Staffing Services Association, Japan Employment Information Publishing Association, Forest Culture Association]

https://company.gakujo.ne.jp