The Current Landscape of Talent Acquisition: A Study on Specialist Resource Requests in Large Corporations

Introduction

In January 2026, Persol Career Co., based in Minato, Tokyo, conducted a comprehensive survey addressing the challenges of securing specialist talent within large organizations. Targeting 500 executives involved in the acquisition and utilization of specialized personnel in companies with over 1,000 employees, the study sheds light on pressing issues such as the speed of talent acquisition and the effectiveness of different hiring strategies.

Background of the Survey

With the rapid advancement of digital technology and AI-driven business transformations, the demand for specialized talent has surged. Many companies are struggling to find qualified personnel capable of undertaking complex tasks such as business strategy formulation, M&A, digital transformation (DX), and data utilization. This survey aims to understand the current state of specialist talent shortages and the efforts companies are making to alleviate these challenges.

Key Findings

1. Impact of Talent Shortages

According to our findings, over 60% of respondents have had to abandon or postpone projects due to a lack of specialized talent. The areas most affected include new business development (52.4%) and DX promotion (49.8%). This reveals not only a significant reliance on specialized professionals for critical projects but also a substantial disruption to business operations owing to talent shortages.

2. Misalignment with Executive Expectations

More than half of the executives surveyed expressed that the speed of securing specialist talent is not keeping pace with executive expectations. A combined total of 52.8% indicated that recruitment efforts are lagging significantly. In contrast, only 14.2% felt that their hiring processes were adequately responsive to business needs.