More large Japan businesses plan to increase headcount in 2023

Some 42% of large Japanese firms are planning to ramp up the hiring of new graduates in fiscal year 2023, revealed a Kyodo News survey. 

The ratio of firms planning to increase recruitment activities rose by 25 points, compared to an older survey held one year ago, and superseded the number of companies planning to curb hiring of fresh graduates, at 9%, for the first time in three years. 

Out of the 117 businesses surveyed, 49 firms said that they will hire more fresh graduates starting next April. 

The survey, which was conducted between mid-March and early April, also found that some companies in the finance and energy sectors plan to curb new graduate hires, and instead plan to expand the recruitment of mid-career workers and improve business efficiency through digitisation, writes The Japan Times. 

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Businesses in sectors hit hard by the pandemic, such as those in the airlines and tourism industries, also highlighted that they planned to increase the hiring of new workers.