Working professionals in Japan most likely to switch jobs among countries surveyed in Hays Asia Salary Guide
Japan, 19.03.2025 – Insights from the 2025 Hays Asia Salary Guide reveal that 66 per cent of working professionals in Japan are planning to change jobs this year, the highest percentage among six locations surveyed in Asia which include Japan, China, Hong Kong SAR, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand.
The survey conducted by Hays across six weeks in late 2024 gathered insights from 8,790 working professionals regarding their career plans in 2025. Respondents also answered questions related to previous job changes, their reasons for leaving their current organisation and their priorities when evaluating a new role.
In Asia: More professionals exploring job changes
58 per cent of professionals in Asia plan to explore employment alternatives this year, more than double the number who switched jobs in 2024 (25 per cent). Among them, 55 per cent are seeking a change in organisation, while three per cent are interested in becoming independent contractors.
When asked about their motivations for leaving, 43 per cent cited a perceived lack of future opportunities, an increase from 35 per cent in 2024. Concerns about job security have also risen, reaching 22 per cent this year compared to 18 per cent in 2024.
Conversely, priorities related to work-life balance have slightly decreased, with 15 per cent considering it a factor in career changes this year, down from 17 per cent in 2024. Additionally, 15 per cent are looking for more challenging roles, compared to 18 per cent last year.
"66 per cent of working professionals in Japan plan to switch jobs this year," said Grant Torrens, Managing Director at Hays Japan. "This positions Japan at the forefront for intentions to leave, surpassing other locations in Asia, and highlights a critical trend that organisations in Japan need to address to retain their talent and remain competitive in the market."
Professionals in China were less inclined to make a job change, with 44 per cent seeking other opportunities this year, the lowest percentage in Asia. Malaysia comes closes to matching rates in Japan, with 62 per cent indicating a desire to change jobs this year, followed by Thailand (61 per cent), Hong Kong (57 per cent) and Singapore (57 per cent).
When asked whether they believed there was scope for career progression within their organisation, 65 per cent of respondents in Japan disagreed. Among those planning to leave their current organisation, 32 per cent cited a lack of future opportunities as their reason, while 22 per cent felt insufficiently challenged in their roles.
“Beyond salary considerations, 50 per cent of working professionals in Japan prioritise challenging roles or projects when selecting their next employer. Given the focus on employee retention in HR investment strategies for organisations in Japan this year, leaders should consider incorporating these initiatives into their Employee Value Proposition to retain critical talent,' said Grant.
When asked about their motivations for leaving, 43 per cent cited a perceived lack of future opportunities, an increase from 35 per cent in 2024. Concerns about job security have also risen, reaching 22 per cent this year compared to 18 per cent in 2024.
Conversely, priorities related to work-life balance have slightly decreased, with 15 per cent considering it a factor in career changes this year, down from 17 per cent in 2024. Additionally, 15 per cent are looking for more challenging roles, compared to 18 per cent last year.
Japan: Career growth a priority for professionals
29 per cent of professionals in Japan reported changing jobs in 2024, surpassed only by Thailand (32 per cent), and ahead of Hong Kong (27 per cent) and China (26 per cent). However, career mobility appears to be accelerating this year, with more professionals expressing intentions to leave their organisations."66 per cent of working professionals in Japan plan to switch jobs this year," said Grant Torrens, Managing Director at Hays Japan. "This positions Japan at the forefront for intentions to leave, surpassing other locations in Asia, and highlights a critical trend that organisations in Japan need to address to retain their talent and remain competitive in the market."
Professionals in China were less inclined to make a job change, with 44 per cent seeking other opportunities this year, the lowest percentage in Asia. Malaysia comes closes to matching rates in Japan, with 62 per cent indicating a desire to change jobs this year, followed by Thailand (61 per cent), Hong Kong (57 per cent) and Singapore (57 per cent).
When asked whether they believed there was scope for career progression within their organisation, 65 per cent of respondents in Japan disagreed. Among those planning to leave their current organisation, 32 per cent cited a lack of future opportunities as their reason, while 22 per cent felt insufficiently challenged in their roles.
“Beyond salary considerations, 50 per cent of working professionals in Japan prioritise challenging roles or projects when selecting their next employer. Given the focus on employee retention in HR investment strategies for organisations in Japan this year, leaders should consider incorporating these initiatives into their Employee Value Proposition to retain critical talent,' said Grant.
Seeking remote work flexibility
Working professionals in Japan were also keen on exploring roles offering flexible work arrangements. 27 per cent of professionals consider the availability of remote work when seeking their next role, the highest percentage in Asia. Furthermore, 35 per cent of professionals prioritise work-life balance initiatives when evaluating new organisations."61 per cent of organisations in Japan currently offer remote work arrangements to employees, underscoring the continued importance work-life balance initiatives play despite the global return-to-office movement. By addressing these preferences, leaders can further enhance employee satisfaction, ultimately positioning themselves as employers of choice," said Grant.
About Hays Japan
Hays Specialist Recruitment Japan KK ("Hays Japan"), established in Tokyo in 2001, is one of the largest foreign recruitment companies in Japan with three offices across the country (Tokyo Head Office, Osaka and Yokohama). At Hays Japan, our experts provide professional services across the private sector, dealing in permanent positions, contract roles, recruitment process outsourcing (RPO), Managed Service Programmes (MSP) and IT solutions in the following 13 specialisms: Accountancy & Finance, Banking & Financial Services, Engineering, Marketing & Digital, Human Resources, Insurance, Legal, Life Sciences, Office Professionals, Property, Sales & Marketing, Supply Chain and Technology. This ensures a highly focused, fully tailored specialist recruitment service, enabling us to power the future of work by serving thousands of companies and candidates in Japan. Hays Japan is recognised as a Great Place to Work® by the esteemed Great Place to Work® Institute Japan, the global authority on workplace culture. We continue to strengthen our position in Asia with the world-leading ISO 9001:2015 certification in all our operational markets including Japan, China, Hong Kong SAR, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand.