Business · Companies · 7 hrs ago
Graduate job offers at major Kansai firms fall 2.1% for 2027
Major companies in Japan’s Kansai region made 2.1% fewer university graduate job offers for workers due to start in spring 2027 than for spring 2026.
This was the second consecutive year of decline.
A survey of firms headquartered in Osaka, Kyoto, Hyogo, Shiga, Nara and Wakayama found that 182 of 192 companies responded, with 172 included in the year-on-year comparison.
Companies were scaling back recruitment in part because of AI-driven efficiency gains.
Some cuts were much steeper: Kubota’s offers fell 74% and Yanmar’s were halved.
The figures show fewer graduate offers at major Kansai firms, but no further hiring plans were given.
Graduate job offers at major Kansai firms for spring 2027 fell 2.1% from the previous year.
The decline was the second consecutive annual fall.
The survey said some firms were restraining recruitment amid efforts to improve work efficiency through artificial intelligence.
The survey covered major companies headquartered in Osaka, Kyoto, Hyogo, Shiga, Nara and Wakayama prefectures.
Kubota’s graduate offers fell 74%, while Yanmar’s fell by half.
- Who
- Major companies headquartered in Kansai’s two prefectures and four other prefectures.
- What
- Graduate job offers for spring 2027 fell 2.1% from the previous year.
- When
- The survey counted offers as of October 1, 2026.
- Where
- The Kansai region of Japan.
- Why
- Some companies were restraining recruitment amid efforts to improve work efficiency through AI.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The survey counted graduate job offers at major Kansai firms as of this date.
Nikkei reported that offers for spring 2027 had fallen 2.1% from the previous year.
- Overall change
- Down 2.1% from spring 2026
- Consecutive annual declines
- 2 years
- Companies surveyed
- 192 major firms
- Responses received
- 182 firms
- Comparable responses
- 172 firms
- Company-specific changes
- Kubota down 74%; Yanmar down by half