Job change service "doda" announces "Job Market Forecast H2 2026", predicting job openings to increase or remain strong in 12 out of 15 fields.

Persol Career Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and President: Hiroshi Senoo) operates the job change service "doda" (Editor-in-Chief: Takashi Sakurai) and has released its "Job Market Forecast H2 2026". For details, please visit: . Additionally, Takashi Sakurai, Editor-in-Chief of doda, will host an online seminar titled "Changes in the Job Market and Latest Trends " on Thursday, July 30, 2026, to explain the latest job market trends and forecasts for the second half of 2026.

Job Market Forecast for H2 2026: Market remains active against a backdrop of chronic labor shortages. On the other hand, companies are shifting their focus from "number of hires" to "personnel who can contribute quickly".

For the second half of 2026, job openings in the overall job market are predicted to "increase" or "remain strong" in 12 out of the 15 fields (7 industries, 8 job types) covered in this report. This is expected to continue at a high level due to chronic labor shortages stemming from factors such as the declining birthrate and aging population, changes in industrial structure, and diversification of work styles. On the other hand, the expansion of hiring quotas seen since the COVID-19 pandemic has leveled off, and companies are transitioning from the stage of "securing a certain number of people" to "emphasizing personnel who can contribute quickly after joining the company".

Job openings to increase (7 fields): IT & Communications, Finance, Accounting, Human Resources, Legal Affairs, Planning & Marketing, Sales & Service

Remain strong (5 fields): Real Estate & Construction, Electrical & Mechanical, Medical, Sales, Chemicals & Materials

Level off (2 fields): Creative, Food

Decrease (1 field): Administrative/Assistant

For trends in the job market for the second half of 2026 in each industry, please refer to: .

Moves to secure talent through wage increases and salary offers exceeding current positions, and initiatives for retention are progressing.

Amidst continued price increases, more people are considering job changes with the aim of increasing their annual income to achieve financial stability. This trend is expected to continue in the second half of 2026. Companies are also increasingly trying to secure talent by offering wage increases and salaries that exceed current positions due to intensifying competition for talent. On the other hand, retaining hired personnel is also a critical management issue for companies. In addition to improving employee satisfaction, there is a growing trend of carefully aligning work styles and roles from the selection stage to prevent mismatches after hiring. For job seekers, opportunities to frankly confirm their desired conditions are also increasing.

As AI utilization becomes more widespread, the demand for personnel who can improve operations and generate results is increasing.

Companies are increasingly incorporating technologies, including generative AI, into their daily operations. A survey conducted by "doda" in February 2026* found that over 70% of companies with 501 or more employees that have introduced or are utilizing AI tools responded that the "scope of desired personnel in mid-career recruitment has changed significantly" or "changed somewhat" due to the advancement of AI introduction and utilization. In the future, individuals who can utilize AI not just for basic use but to achieve concrete productivity improvements and results in their work are expected to be highly valued.

The evolution of generative AI and technology is bringing about changes not only in operational efficiency but also in individual actions and corporate challenges themselves. Consequently, the skills required in the job market are expected to be updated in short cycles. It is likely that individuals who are aware of the skills and experience demanded by the market and regularly review and update them will be able to achieve their own career aspirations.

* "Survey on AI Utilization Status and Human Resource Strategies in Companies" by job change service "doda"

【Online Seminar】 "Changes in the Job Market and Latest Trends " Explained by doda Editor-in-Chief: Event Overview

In this seminar, Takashi Sakurai, Editor-in-Chief of doda, will provide a detailed explanation of changes in the job market based on the latest data, shifts in individual values and corporate needs, and the job market forecast for H2 2026, along with key points for job hunting.

Date and Time: Thursday, July 30, 2026, 19:00 - 20:00

Participation Fee: Free

Target Audience: Working professionals

Tools Used: Online video tool (Zoom)

Event URL & Registration: https://doda.jp/event/doda_market.html

Application Deadline: Wednesday, July 29, 23:59

Speaker Profile: Takashi Sakurai, Editor-in-Chief of doda

After joining a major human resources company upon graduation, he has consistently been involved in career education for students both domestically and internationally, job placement, and recruitment support for a wide range of companies. In November 2016, he joined Persol Career Co., Ltd. as a mid-career hire. In the same year, he was seconded to Benesse i-キャリア Co., Ltd., a joint venture with Benesse Holdings, Inc., where he led the launch of the new graduate offer service "doda Campus" and became its first Editor-in-Chief. Subsequently, as General Manager of the Product and Service Division, he was responsible for services for university students, including career courses and assessments. In April 2023, he was appointed Deputy Editor-in-Chief of doda and Executive Manager of the Product Management Department in the Client P&M Division, overseeing all recruitment support products for corporations. In April 2024, he was appointed Editor-in-Chief of doda. Through his services, he has supported the careers of over 600,000 young people and is well-versed in the job hunting and career development trends of Gen Z, as well as corporate recruitment and training methods.

Regarding the citation of sources

When quoting or reprinting this data, please be sure to include the following information. When publishing on web media, please link "doda" to the doda top page and the article title to the article URL.

Example of citation)

Source: Job change service "doda" - "Job Market Forecast H2 2026"

"doda" = https://doda.jp/

"Job Market Forecast H2 2026" = https://doda.jp/guide/market/

About the job change service "doda"

With the slogan "Hataraku kyou ga, ii hi ni." (Today's work makes it a good day.), "doda" provides optimal matching between job seekers and recruiting companies through various content such as its job change website, job change agency, and doda job change fairs.

About Persol Career Co., Ltd.

Persol Career Co., Ltd., with its mission to "empower people to take control of their work," provides recruitment services, job advertising, and new graduate recruitment support through its job change service "doda" and high-level job change service "doda X." In May 2022, it launched "HiPro," a comprehensive support service for professionals, and made a full-scale entry into the side job/freelance domain. By leveraging the full strength of the group, the company strives to create social value with an even greater focus on individual "work," confronts social issues head-on, and aims to realize a society where all "work" leads to smiles.

About our mission: https://www.persol-career.co.jp/mission_value/