Big Japanese companies are increasing the hiring of college graduates for the first time in four years, a Nikkei survey shows, as the economy recovers from the Covid-19 pandemic slump and a labour shortage intensifies competition for talent. Graduating seniors who have accepted job offers, including those finishing graduate studies, are up 5.7% on the year to 116,079 as of 3 October, the second-sharpest rise in ten years behind fiscal 2015. A total of 941 companies responded to the survey.

College students in Japan traditionally accept job offers while in their senior year, entering the company the following April. The increase owes partly to a rebound from a period when many companies pulled back on hiring amid the pandemic, as well as to recovering demand in areas such as the auto industry. Companies also are turning to new graduates to fill gaps as more young workers leave for other jobs.