Japan's PM hiring cools: weekly postings down 39% from their September peak
There are 180 open Project Manager roles in Japan from 72 companies, but new postings have slowed from a peak of 23 a week to 14, and the 30-day total is down 10%.
is what the typical role asks for. 6% ask for 10 years or more.
48% of open roles state years43 new roles in the last 30 days, against 48 the 30 days before, at the same companies.
Companies read for 60 days or moreat 72 companies hiring in Japan.
Issue of 2 November 2026This week's read
If you're watching this market closely, you'll notice the pace has eased. New postings peaked the week of 28 September at 23, and by the week of 26 October that had dropped to 14, a 39% fall from the peak. Over the last 30 days, 43 new roles were posted, down 10% from the 48 in the 30 days before.
Rakuten still has the most open roles at 50, more than any other employer here, but its pace of new postings has slowed sharply: from 29 in the prior 30 days to just 6 now, a 79% drop. The top 8 employers between them hold 59% of all open roles, so a few names still shape most of what you'll see on job boards. Amazon, DXC Technology and Capgemini round out the biggest listers.
Roles stay open a median of 53 days, so this isn't a market where you need to apply the day something posts. Only 48% of listings state a years-of-experience requirement, but where they do, the median minimum is 3 years, and just 6% ask for 10 or more. Mid-level titles make up 78% of postings, so this is mostly a mid-career market rather than one for senior hires.
On skills, AI and machine learning and SQL each appear in 10% of postings, with AWS at 8%. PMP is named in 18% of listings, well ahead of PRINCE2 at 4%, and Agile is asked for in 11%. If you're looking for remote work, be aware that only 2% of open roles are listed as remote, so most hiring here expects you on site.
What this means for you
Three things you can act on this week
- Don't expect a remote role
Only 2% of the 180 open roles are remote, so plan for on-site or hybrid work when you search in this market.
- Watch the slowdown, not just the total
Weekly new postings are down 39% from their September peak, even though 180 roles remain open. Apply with that pace in mind.
- PMP shows up often, 10+ years rarely
PMP appears in 18% of postings, far more than other certifications. Only 6% of roles ask for 10 or more years of experience, so this is largely a mid-level market.
Momentum
New Project Management roles each week
Last 30 days: 43 new roles, against 48 the 30 days before (-10%). 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 | 14 |
| 14 Sep | 3 |
| 21 Sep | 5 |
| 28 Sep | 23 |
| 5 Oct | 9 |
| 12 Oct | 1 |
| 19 Oct | 20 |
| 26 Oct | 14 |
Who is hiring
The companies with the most open Project Management roles
72 companies are hiring. The top eight hold 59% of the open roles.
| Company | Open roles | Change in new roles |
|---|---|---|
| Rakuten | 50 | -79% |
| Amazon | 19 | |
| DXC Technology | 14 | |
| Capgemini | 10 | |
| Kyndryl | 5 | |
| IQVIA | 4 | |
| NTT Global Data Centers | 3 | |
| ABB | 2 |
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 Project Management roles ask for most
Ask Rate is the share of roles that name a skill, from 171 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: Consulting 6%, Telecommunications 5%, SaaS 4%. Certifications named: PMP 18%, PRINCE2 4%, CAPM 1%. 2% of open roles say they are remote.
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