[2027 Graduate Recruitment Trends] Strong Corporate Demand for Field Roles 'Not Replaceable by AI'; 60% Maintain or Expand Hiring Strategy

Jinjib (HQ: Osaka), a career support company for high school students, conducted a survey on high school recruitment trends for the graduating class of 2027 among corporate hiring managers.

[Summary of 2027 Graduate Recruitment Trends]

1. 92.5% of companies plan to 'maintain or expand' hiring quotas for 2027 graduates, driven by labor shortages and high expectations for high school graduate recruitment.

2. About 40% (39.8%) stated they would 'raise starting salaries' for 2027 graduates, a decrease compared to 72.1% for 2026 graduates. However, 65.9% of companies that increased their hiring quotas also plan to raise starting salaries, highlighting a strong link between hiring ambition and wage growth.

3. Even with the progress of AI and automation, about 60% (60.3%) plan to 'intensify or not change' their high school recruitment policies, citing the belief that 'labor shortages in field roles will persist after AI adoption.'

[Survey Context and Market Background]

For the class of March 2026, the job opening-to-applicant ratio for high school graduates stood at 4.12x, reflecting high demand for talent amid labor shortages. Amid growing social concerns about AI replacing jobs, the impact on high school graduate recruitment remains a focal point.

Students often lack sufficient time for deep company research during their short job hunting period, leading to mismatches. Our survey shows that about 60% of high school graduates retrospectively feel they should have gathered more information. As such, information dissemination by companies to 'be chosen' is critical. Job postings for March 2027 graduates are scheduled to be released on July 1, with applications starting on September 5.

[Survey Overview] - Period: April 28, 2026 – May 7, 2026 - Method: Internet survey via PRIZMA - Respondents: 1,014 corporate high school recruitment managers - Organizer: Jinjib Inc.