In April 2025, Global Talent Job-Seeking Activity Increased Across Five Job Categories; Electrical & Mechanical Sector Continues Double-Digit Growth at +20%
<<Click here for the article in Japanese>>
As Japan moved through the Golden Week holidays, many may have had a brief opportunity to recharge. For companies that welcomed new hires in April, the pace of business likely remained brisk with onboarding and internal preparations.
A recent column on Daijob.com highlighted a growing trend: “The U.S. Losing Favor—Brain Drain Accelerates.(**)” The article noted that visa restrictions and research funding cuts under the Trump administration have prompted top-tier researchers to leave the U.S., while European countries actively court global talent through progressive policies.
As our own Survey on Foreign Talent’s Work and Career Perceptions in Japan, Vol. 2 (conducted last fall) (**)showed, Japan remains an attractive destination thanks to its strong public safety and livability. Strengthening support systems, increasing research funding, and expanding multilingual information channels could enhance Japan’s appeal as a global research and innovation hub and help attract high-caliber international professionals.
Let’s take a closer look at job-seeking activity trends among global talent(*) in April 2025.
*Note: Data reflects activity from Daijob.com users who are proficient in both English and Japanese at a business level, and who have either applied for a job or responded positively to Scout emails.
** :This article is available only in Japanese.
Key Findings
Job-seeking activity rose across five occupational categories month-over-month (MoM); Electrical & Mechanical saw sustained growth at +20%, following a +34.0% increase in March.
“Sales" and "Executive/Management" increased by more than 40%.
■ MoM: Five Job Categories See Growth; Electrical & Mechanical Maintains Strong Momentum
In April, job-seeking activity among global talent intensified across five job categories, while seven categories showed signs of cooling. Notably, the Electrical & Mechanical sector continued its robust trend, climbing another +20.0% after a remarkable +34.0% increase in March. The Consulting category, which had slowed in the previous month, rebounded with a healthy +18.7% uptick. In contrast, Creative roles declined by –14.7%, contributing to an overall deceleration in those seven categories.
Comparison of April “Job Seekers” Trends (2025, month-over-month)
■ YoY: Broad-Based Surge Led by Sales at +68.9%
April marked the 12th consecutive month of year-over-year growth in global talent activity. Sales remained the top-performing category, with a sharp +68.9% increase. Executive/Management roles also maintained strong momentum, recording +33.3% and continuing a trend of 20%+ growth that began in August 2024. Meanwhile, Finance/Insurance/Real Estate—after showing upward movement in February—declined by –9.1%.
Comparison of April “Job Seekers” Trends (2025, Year-on-Year)
April typically coincides with the arrival of new graduates and mid-career hires at many Japanese companies, placing considerable demands on HR teams in terms of training and onboarding. On the candidate side, this is also a period when many complete their job searches or career transitions, leading to a slight dip in overall market activity compared to the previous month. However, this relative calm presents an ideal opportunity to develop hiring strategies for the next quarter.
Looking ahead, we’re pleased to announce that our upcoming Career Fair will be held on Friday, June 13. This event offers employers a valuable opportunity to engage directly with bilingual, globally minded professionals. We encourage interested organizations to reach out for more information.
