#Japan #Tokyo #Recruitment #Talent Management #HR EXPO

Insights from the 2026 HR Challenges Survey

The Nippon Television HR Research Institute recently released the findings from their survey conducted during the 18th HR EXPO held from June 17 to 19, 2026, at Tokyo Big Sight. This survey aimed to uncover the pressing human resources issues faced by companies. With 1,204 valid responses from HR professionals who visited the booth, the survey sought to identify priorities across various HR phases: recruitment, onboarding, training, evaluation & placement, retention, and resignation.

Summary of Results

The results reveal that recruitment topped the list of challenges, receiving 318 votes (26.4%) from respondents. Following closely were training with 262 votes (21.8%) and evaluation & placement with 222 votes (18.4%). Together, these three categories comprised approximately 66.6% of the total responses, indicating that issues at the entry point of talent acquisition and subsequent development are critical concerns.

Phase-wise Breakdown

1. Recruitment: 318 votes (26.4%)
The competition for acquiring talent remains fierce, making recruitment the primary challenge. However, there's an emerging concern regarding the quality of hires, as companies are struggling not just to find talent but also to ensure that new hires fit well within the company and remain engaged long-term.

2. Training: 262 votes (21.8%)
The difficulty in hiring has led to a heightened focus on how quickly employees can be developed into valuable team members. Together with recruitment, this phase accounts for nearly 48% of the concerns, suggesting a concentrated effort on both acquiring and effectively onboarding new hires.

3. Evaluation and Placement: 222 votes (18.4%)
Issues surrounding fair evaluation and appropriate placement are significant, emphasizing that nearly 40% of the respondents are focused on the management cycle of training, evaluating, and placing talent appropriately.

4. Resignation: 140 votes (11.6%)
Combined with retention challenges, resignation concerns highlight a critical issue in return on investment for hiring and training efforts, particularly as it relates to employee turnover and retention strategies.

5. Retention: 110 votes (9.1%)
Although receiving fewer votes, retention strategies for mid-career professionals are critical, indicating that this often-overlooked segment may signal subtle signs of disengagement.

6. Onboarding: 86 votes (7.1%)
While this received the fewest responses, it may reflect the integration of onboarding issues within broader training and retention strategies rather than a true lack of concern.

7. Others: 66 votes (5.5%)
Other topics of concern included labor management, HR digital transformation, and management shortages, reflecting cross-sectional challenges in human resources.

Conclusion

The survey results suggest that while recruitment remains a top priority, there is a notable shift in focus towards the subsequent phases of talent management, including development and retention. The aggregate of post-recruitment phases accounts for 68.1% of the total responses, indicating a significant trend towards not only hiring talent but also ensuring their long-term success within the organization.

The Nippon Television HR Research Institute is dedicated to improving relationships between individuals and organizations in the workplace. Their services encompass support for recruitment, training programs, HR consulting, and AI integration across all phases of human resource management.

Survey Overview

• - Survey Name: 2026 HR Challenges Survey
• - Date: June 17-19, 2026
• - Location: 18th HR EXPO, Tokyo Big Sight
• - Methodology: Participant feedback
• - Valid Responses: 1,204

Company Overview

• - Name: Nippon Television HR Research Institute
• - URL: https://ntv-hr.com/
• - Head Office: Minato-ku, Tokyo
• - CEO: Hiroyuki Nakamura
• - Established: May 1, 2025
• - Business Start Date: August 1, 2025
• - Services: Video training, recruitment support, HR consulting, AI utilization support.