Itochu Corp. topped a ranking of popular places to work for prospective graduates in Japan for the ninth straight year, according to a survey by Gakujo Co., a Japanese job information company.
The major trading company's "work-style reforms, such as a 'morning-focused work system,' and proactive recruitment were well-received," said a Gakujo representative, analyzing the survey results.
The survey was conducted online from February to October of this year, targeting undergraduate and graduate students expected to graduate in March 2028, with about 24,000 students responding. The results were compiled into various rankings, such as the most appealing workplaces overall and by gender or area of study (the humanities or sciences).
According to the survey, Itochu attracted students with its strong performance in "non-resource" segments such as textiles and machinery, as well as work-style reforms including a morning-focused work system that is intended to eliminate late-night overtime and encourage early-morning work. Itochu also ranked first among men, women and those studying the humanities, and second among science students.
Ajinomoto Co., which ranked second in the overall ranking, earned the top spot among science students. While the company is strongly associated with the food industry, it also has expanded into electronic materials for semiconductors.
Toho Co., Oriental Land Co. and Nintendo Co. filled third through fifth place, respectively, in the overall ranking, and all gained popularity due to their strong content -- such as films, characters and video games -- which allows them to compete on the global stage.
Gakujo also said that while there are signs that the information technology and telecommunications sectors have relaxed their hiring, manufacturers and retailers remain active. "Anticipating changes in corporate talent needs driven by the spread of AI, students' interest may have shifted toward people-oriented businesses and manufacturers," the Gakujo representative suggested.
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This article is from The Yomiuri Shimbun. Neither Dow Jones Newswires, MarketWatch, Barron's nor The Wall Street Journal were involved in the creation of this content.
YDN-M0000245917-1
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