Job seekers in Japan have nominated a desire to seek new challenges as the main reason why they wish to switch jobs in 2017. Career progression was the number one reason why employees in Japan will stay with their current employer, according to the newly released 2017 Hays Asia Salary Guide.
The annual Hays Asia Salary Guide reveals the results of candidate and employer surveyed from across China, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia and Singapore. The Guide also provides salary ranges for more than 1,200 roles based on research from 3,000 employers representing six million employees.
According to the tenth annual Guide, 34 per cent of candidates across all countries are actively looking for a new job while 46 per cent are open to new opportunities.
In addition to seeking new challenges (50 per cent) compared to 54 per cent last year, the other key motivators for job hunting in Japan are:
On a country level, salary or benefit package was the main reason why job seekers are looking to switch jobs in China, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore.
Key reasons candidates in Japan want to stay with their current employer are:
- Career progression (43 per cent)
- Salary or benefit package (41 per cent)
- Job security (38 per cent)
- Work-life balance (35 per cent)
- Work location (30 per cent)
- New challenges (29 per cent)
- Training or development opportunities (26 per cent)
- The management style & company culture (22 per cent)
- Other (5 per cent)
On a country level, work-life balance was nominated by candidates in Malaysia, Hong Kong and Singapore as the main reason why they wish to stay with their current employer. In China, job security is the key retention motivator.
Other key candidate trends from Japan in the 2017 Guide include:
- 47 per cent are happy with their salary, bonus, benefits package and 53 per cent are unhappy
- 65 per cent are willing to relocate to a different country to secure a new role
- 56 per cent believe their job performance is fairly evaluated
- 35 per cent believe there is scope for career progression in their current role
- 32 per cent say there is no scope for career progression in their current job and 33 per cent are unsure
- 42 per cent spend one to two hours of personal time a week enhancing their professional skills
“This year’s Guide tells very different stories about why employees in Japan leave a job and why they stay,” says Marc Burrage, Managing Director of Hays in Japan.
“We have seen a significant increase in the number of job hunters motivated by salary and benefits but for many of those expecting to stay with their current employer, career progression is worth more than financial gain.”
Asked about their salary expectations, 37 per cent of candidates in Japan expect an increase of up to 3 per cent only during their next review whilst 35 per cent expect no increase at all. 15 per cent expect a salary increase of more than 6 per cent.
Of employers surveyed in Japan, 60 per cent plan to award salary increases of up to three per cent only. 16 per cent of employers in Japan have no plans to award salary increases this year whereas 7 per cent plan to offer more than 6 per cent.
During the last salary review period, 58 per cent of employers in Japan awarded increases of up to 3 per cent and 18 per cent provided no salary increases. 11 per cent of employers gave salary increases of 6 per cent and more.
“While those planning to stay with their employer have fairly realistic salary expectations, employers will have to be mindful of the higher salary expectations of the candidates they are trying to attract, especially those companies with hard to fill roles,” Marc says.
Of employers in Japan surveyed for the 2017 Guide, 42 per cent believe skills shortages have the potential to hamper effective business operations this year and 54 per cent expect shortages to have some impact on their business operations.
Get your copy of the 2017 Hays Asia Salary Guide by visiting www.hays.co.jp/en/salary-guide or by contacting your local Hays office.