Japan software engineer postings cool off, now below their September peak
New roles fell 33% in the past 30 days, and the weekly pace has eased well below its mid-September high. There are still 151 open roles across 66 companies.
is what the typical role asks for. 13% ask for 10 years or more.
37% of open roles state years28 new roles in the last 30 days, against 42 the 30 days before, at the same companies.
Companies read for 60 days or moreat 66 companies hiring in Japan.
Issue of 2 November 2026This week's read
The hiring pace for software engineers in Japan has slowed. New postings dropped to 28 in the last 30 days, down from 42 in the 30 days before that, a 33% fall. The weekly count also tells the same story: it peaked at 12 new roles the week of 14 September and has since eased to 9, a 25% drop from that high.
Even with fewer new postings, there are still 151 open roles spread across 66 companies. But hiring is concentrated: the top 8 employers hold 53% of all open roles between them. Rakuten alone lists 24 roles, the most of any company, followed by Capgemini, Synspective and DXC Technology.
Experience bars are on the high side. The median minimum ask is 5 years, and 13% of postings want 10 or more. Only 37% of roles state a years requirement at all, so many listings leave it open, which is worth noting if you are earlier in your career.
Roles are not quick to fill: the median open role has been listed for 55 days. Remote work is rare here, with only 3% of open roles offered remote, so plan on being near an office.
On skills, Python is the most asked for, named in 32% of postings. If you are deciding where to focus your prep, that is the one employers mention most often right now.
What this means for you
Three things you can act on this week
- Apply even without years listed
Only 37% of postings state a years requirement, so do not rule yourself out of the rest just because experience is not mentioned.
- Target the concentrated top employers
The top 8 companies hold 53% of all open roles. Rakuten alone has 24 open roles, more than any other employer this week.
- Do not count on remote
Only 3% of open roles are remote. If you need remote work, narrow your search early rather than filtering by location later.
Momentum
New Engineering roles each week
Last 30 days: 28 new roles, against 42 the 30 days before (-33%). Each week counts the same companies, and a role counts as new only in the week it was posted, so a careers site we start reading never shows up as growth.
See the numbers
| Week starting | New roles |
|---|---|
| 7 Sep | 10 |
| 14 Sep | 12 |
| 21 Sep | 3 |
| 28 Sep | 12 |
| 5 Oct | 6 |
| 12 Oct | 7 |
| 19 Oct | 6 |
| 26 Oct | 9 |
Who is hiring
The companies with the most open Engineering roles
66 companies are hiring. The top eight hold 53% of the open roles.
| Company | Open roles | Change in new roles |
|---|---|---|
| Rakuten | 24 | |
| Capgemini | 12 | |
| Synspective | 11 | |
| DXC Technology | 9 | |
| Accenture | 7 | |
| Quest Global | 7 | |
| Harman | 6 | |
| Amazon | 4 |
Change compares new roles in the last 30 days with the 30 days before, shown where a company posted 25 or more in the earlier 30 days. Staffing agencies are left out. A company name links to its Ashney company page where there is one.
What they ask for
The technology Engineering roles ask for most
Ask Rate is the share of roles that name a skill, from 139 postings read in full. Ways of working (methods such as Agile, tools such as Jira) are listed apart; office tools and soft skills are left out.
Ways of working
Industries named most: Automotive 9%, Semiconductors 6%, ADAS 4%. Certifications named: JLPT 1%, PMP 1%, Salesforce Certified Platform Developer 1%. 3% of open roles say they are remote.
Cite this report