The COVID-19 crisis has transformed the digital technology landscape in Japan, with more professionals working remotely and more businesses ramping up their digital capabilities as part of a seismic shift in traditional working culture. This shift has caused a surge in hiring within the digital technology sector, particularly in areas that have proven increasingly important in facilitating Japan's digital transformation.

Richard Eardley, Managing Director for Recruiting Experts Hays in Japan, shares three such areas that will continue to be hiring hot spots even after the worst of the pandemic has been overcome.

1. Cybersecurity - 'Japan's transformation to more digital ways of working has also left many businesses vulnerable to cyberattacks,' says Richard, citing the recent thefts of bank accounts linked to NTT Docomo's cashless payments service as an example. 'Even Zoom, one of the greatest business success stories during the pandemic, had its challenges in this area. Companies in Japan are increasingly understanding that they need to secure their systems, which has resulted in more business for big cybersecurity firms that are now hiring massively.'

The roles most in demand at this time are security Network Engineers, who are responsible for ensuring a company's infrastructure is resistant to attacks, and Cybersecurity Consultants who help advise companies on preparing for and tackling potential threats. 'Many cybersecurity companies are also hiring pre-sales or sales engineers who have the ability to aggressively acquire customers in a competitive market,' says Richard.

2. Data Science and Analysis - 'A number of businesses have pivoted their business models using technology during COVID-19,' says Richard. 'After crossing the initial period of alarm at the onset of the outbreak, businesses and public bodies have started thinking about how they can continue to operate successfully under COVID-19 conditions. Data has become a huge focus point for businesses looking to reach customers and optimise their business operations to achieve this, creating a demand for Data Analysts and Data Scientists.'

The rise of e-commerce amidst pandemic-induced movement restrictions has also led to a high demand for data-related roles, says Richard. 'E-commerce giants have continued to hire through the pandemic and will continue to do so, with a focus on data related roles that can help them better serve their growing base of customers.'

3. IT Infrastructure - 'The speed at which organisations in Japan had to adapt to the challenges of country-wide restrictions resulted in a sharp increase in demand for IT vendors and consulting companies that could advise on and set up the necessary infrastructure,' shares Richard. 'Alongside specialised roles like cloud engineers and consultants, there has also been a high demand for helpdesk and desktop support positions from vendor companies, indicating that more companies are outsourcing their technology infrastructure in the current environment.' With many companies still making the transition to digitised ways of working, Richard believes IT infrastructure will remain a critical area driving hiring across functions.

While hiring demand will be sustained in these areas, Richard warns that the candidate market has become more competitive. 'We are seeing an increased number of candidates in the market due to redundancy and fears of job security. Many overseas nationals are also looking to return home, further increasing competition. Alongside brushing up on technical skills, candidates would also benefit from honing their bilingual communication skills and preparing themselves to showcase their experience and adaptability to stand out at this time of transformation and change.

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Hays plc published this content on 30 September 2020 and is solely responsible for the information contained therein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 05 October 2020 08:59:03 UTC