'Jinji Hakusho 2026' by Nihon no Jinjibu Released!

Nihon no Jinjibu has compiled the results of an actual state survey of human resources targeting its full members and published it as 'Jinji Hakusho 2026' (HR White Paper 2026).

The survey covers themes related to people and organizations, including human capital disclosure, utilization of generative AI, recruitment, training, and evaluation. Based on data from a total of 5,103 companies, it analyzes the challenges faced by corporate HR departments nationwide and the current status of their strategies and measures. The end of the book includes commentary and future recommendations from experts and HR leaders in various fields. This single volume allows you to grasp the actual state and challenges of HR in Japanese companies and find clues for solving your own company's issues.

▼Details here

https://jinjibu.jp/research/

【Features】

Large-scale survey of 5,103 companies nationwide. Understand the actual state of HR and find clues for problem-solving.

8-chapter structure covering basic themes and trends in 'People and Organizations'.

Experts in each field propose strategic directions for the 8 themes.

For the first time, recommendations from HR leaders are also included.

Packed with 352 pages of quantitative and qualitative data.

【Survey Themes】

Actual state of HR departments

Strategic HR

Recruitment

Training

Systems, Evaluation, and Compensation

Ease of Work and Job Satisfaction

Organizational Culture and Climate

Noteworthy HR Issues

【Survey Results (Excerpts)】

One in three large companies introduce AI in selection processes, widening digital gap (Chapter 3: Recruitment)

Regarding the use of AI in recruitment processes, 87.7% of respondents indicated they 'do not use AI'. However, when limited to large companies with 5,001 or more employees, 34.3% use AI in selection, including 'using AI for document screening' (22.9%) and 'conducting AI-based interviews' or 'conducting non-selection interviews with AI' (5.7% each). This indicates that one in three large companies are introducing AI into their selection processes.

The root of all evils that diminish job satisfaction is 'meetings with ambiguous objectives' (Chapter 6: Ease of Work and Job Satisfaction)

Respondents were asked about practices that negatively affect job satisfaction. 'Meetings and regular meetings with ambiguous objectives' (45.6%) was the most cited, followed by 'chronic long working hours' (27.7%), 'difficult-to-use internal systems and IT tools' (26.1%), 'excessive internal reporting document creation' and 'frequent organizational changes or policy shifts' (25.7% each), 'excessive internal maneuvering and office politics' (23.0%), and 'complex approval processes (stamp rallies)' (20.7%).

Regarding reskilling, 70% respond 'too busy with daily tasks to learn' (Chapter 7: Organizational Culture and Climate)

Reskilling is gaining attention, but its penetration at the operational level is slow. When asked about the biggest barrier to promoting reskilling, 70.1% of companies responded 'too busy with daily tasks to learn', highlighting the distress of the front lines. Furthermore, issues such as 'lack of opportunities to apply learned skills (transfers or projects)' (43.9%) and 'no system to link learning and self-development to evaluations' (41.8%) reveal a dilemma where the lack of supporting structures dampens employees' motivation to learn.

80% of companies have a departmental 'silo mentality', regardless of performance (Chapter 7: Organizational Culture and Climate)

The proportion of those who feel 'strong' or 'somewhat strong' departmental silo mentality (sectionarism) reaches 80.9%, and this trend is independent of business performance. This empirically demonstrates it to be a deeply rooted issue, a structural pathology of Japanese companies.

In addition, the 'Jinji Hakusho 2026' includes the results of all 165 survey questions, as well as analysis and future recommendations for each theme by the supervisors.

【Survey Overview】

Survey Period: March 3 - March 31, 2026

Target Audience: Full members of 'Nihon no Jinjibu'

Survey Method: Responses accepted via the website 'Nihon no Jinjibu'

Number of Responses: 5,103 companies, 5,274 people (total)

Respondent Attributes: HR personnel and management of companies

Number of Questions: 165

Themes: 1. Actual state of HR departments / 2. Strategic HR / 3. Recruitment / 4. Training / 5. Systems, Evaluation, and Compensation / 6. Ease of Work and Job Satisfaction / 7. Organizational Culture and Climate / 8. Noteworthy HR Issues

【Supervision and Commentary】

<Chapters 1: Actual state of HR departments / 2: Strategic HR> Motohiro Morishima (Professor, Department of Business Administration, Faculty of Economics, Gakushuin University / Professor Emeritus, Hitotsubashi University)

<Chapter 3: Recruitment> Tomoyuki Suzuki (Professor, Graduate School of Economics, Kokugakuin University)

<Chapter 4: Training> Yuichi Matsumoto (Professor, Faculty of Commerce, Kwansei Gakuin University)

<Chapter 5: Systems, Evaluation, and Compensation> Kiyoshi Takahashi (Professor, Faculty of Business Administration, Otsuma Women's University / Professor Emeritus, Kobe University)

<Chapter 6: Ease of Work and Job Satisfaction / 8: Noteworthy HR Issues> Jun Yoago (Associate Professor, Faculty of Business Administration, Nanzan University)

<Chapter 7: Organizational Culture and Climate> Yoshiaki Takao (Professor, Faculty of Business Administration, Kyoto Sangyo University / Professor Emeritus, Tokyo Metropolitan University)

【2026 New Project: HR Leader Roundtable】

Is 'Strategic HR' truly stagnating? HR must possess 'translation skills' and 'resolve', and become a 'catalyst'.

Masahiko Ishida (Executive Officer, General Manager of HR and General Affairs, ORIX Life Insurance Corporation)

Kyoko Yamaguchi (General Manager, HR Department, Meiji Co., Ltd.)

Masamichi Yoshiwara (General Manager, HR and General Affairs Department, Sapporo Breweries Ltd. & General Manager, HR Department, Sapporo Holdings Limited)

Masaki Warishii (General Manager, HR Headquarters, Beisia Co., Ltd. / Director, Beisia Opus Co., Ltd.)

【Book Details】

・Editor: 'Nihon no Jinjibu' Editorial Department

・Format: A4 size

・Number of Pages: 352 pages

・Price:

Digital Version / 11,000 yen (tax included)

Printed Version / 11,000 yen (tax included)

Digital & Printed Version Set / 13,200 yen (tax included)

*The content of the digital and printed versions is the same.

▼Details here

https://jinjibu.jp/research/

【Contact for this Press Release】 Company Name: HR Vision Co., Ltd. Contact: Editorial Department, Jinji Hakusho Representative Tel: 03-5414-2219 Email: [email protected]