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Cutting Jobs with AI? Japan Is Doing the Opposite”… Companies Instead Expand Hiring

영 저널리스트 기자

입력 2026.03.24 11:31

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[Young journalist Oh Sihyun] Even though artificial intelligence (AI) is being adopted, it has been found that Japanese companies are expanding hiring rather than reducing their workforce. This reflects a strategy of using AI as a tool to create new business opportunities rather than for restructuring.

According to the Nikkei on the 20th, a digital transformation (DX) survey conducted on 246 listed Japanese companies showed that corporate workforce strategies are moving in a different direction from previous trends.

The survey results showed that 28% of companies responded that “an increase in personnel is necessary” after introducing AI and other new technologies. In contrast, only 17% chose workforce reduction or reassignment.

A considerable number of companies have not yet felt the changes. Nearly half responded that there is “no impact” or that they are “still in the early stages.”

This trend contrasts with situations in the United States and other countries, where workforce reductions have been followed by the adoption of AI. This suggests that Japanese companies tend to view AI not as a means of cost reduction, but as a new engine for growth.

Azusa Audit Corporation, which conducted the survey, explained that “companies that actively utilize AI in product development and customer service show a clear tendency to anticipate an increase in personnel.”

However, the issue of talent shortages still remains. More than 80% of companies mentioned that “securing and developing talent” is the biggest difficulty in the process of digital transformation. In particular, there is a severe shortage of “business architects,” who connect business and technology.

Experts say that “as the use of AI expands, new job roles will emerge, and consequently, the demand for labor is likely to increase structurally.”

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