Ties’ Current Focus in the Manufacturing Job Category is Mechanical and IT Technical Roles! Mid-career Recruitment Activities Expected to Soar in the Second Half, with High Demand for Specialized Graduates and Experienced Mid-Level Professionals!

We are pleased to announce that Ties Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Osaka city, Osaka, Representative Director: Eiji Hirooka, hereinafter referred to as “Ties”), a group company of ZIGExN Co., Ltd. and a specialized recruitment agency for manufacturers, has compiled the latest market trends and hiring patterns in the manufacturing job market based on their most recent job data. We aim to provide insights into the evolving landscape of job roles and skills demanded in the manufacturing industry. With numerous confidential and exclusive job listings in their portfolio and regular communication with many manufacturing companies, Ties is uniquely positioned to shed light on changes in employer needs, potential job opportunities, and the manufacturing job roles they are currently keeping a close eye on. We invite you to take a look at their findings.

■The trend in job openings for the whole Manufacturing Industry

The overall job openings in the manufacturing sector have fluctuated between 50,000 to 70,000 since January 2021, indicating a stable trend. (*Reference: General Job Placement Data (Employment Service Statistics) / General Job Placement Data / Up to August 2023)

■Job opening trend at Ties (as of the end of August 2023)

The chart below shows the trend in job openings specialized in the manufacturing sector handled by Ties from January 2021 to August 2023. It has been steadily increasing since January 2021, and as of the end of August 2023, it has exceeded 2.5 times the number of job openings compared to January 2021, reaching its highest level on record.

■Job opening trend by occupation at Ties (as of the end of August 2023)

The following chart illustrates the trend in job openings by occupation category in Ties from January 2021 to August 2023. As the overall job openings at Ties have steadily increased, so have the job openings in each occupation category. When considering the growth rate of job openings during this period, mechanical engineering positions and IT-related technical positions stand out as the top two categories, with both experiencing approximately 2.5 times increase compared to January 2021 as of August 2023.

■Job opening trend by occupation – Insight from Ties Consultant

Why are technical positions in mechanical engineering and IT experiencing a significant increase in demand? Ties’ dedicated consultant, who engages in direct communication with manufacturing companies on a daily basis, will explain these trends while incorporating insights unique to their industry knowledge.

＜Mechanical Engineering Position＞

A mechanical engineering position involves research, development, and manufacturing of various mechanical products such as household appliances, precision machinery, transportation equipment, and industrial machinery.

The overall trend shows an increase in job openings, although there has been a decrease in job listings for some foreign-affiliated companies. With the advancement of the IoT, the demand for embedded engineers has been on the rise, leading to an increase in recruitment in this field. Furthermore, compared to two or three years ago, there is a growing tendency to consider a wider range of experience from job seekers, not just focusing on their compatibility with previous product design experience. Looking at the breakdown of job openings in mechanical design, the number of positions has been increasing across various areas, including facilities, plants, and components, regardless of the size of the products. In terms of market trends, the acceleration of the EV shift has led to an increased demand for candidates with fundamental knowledge of the four dynamics of machinery: Strength of Materials, Fluid dynamics, Thermodynamics, and Dynamics of machinery. Furthermore, candidates with experience in the design of propulsion systems are in higher demand.

The increase in job openings for mechanical engineering positions can primarily be attributed to two key factors, “Strong business performance across various companies” and “Advancements in technological innovation”. With the growth of renewable energy, autonomous driving, EVs, and the IoT, there is a rising demand for specialized talent within the industry. Due to the nature of certain tasks that require the expertise of the Third-Class Electric Chief Engineer, there is a strong trend of seeking individuals holding this qualification. Additionally, there is a high demand for professionals with experience in circuit design, both analog and digital, particularly in the areas of image processing and wireless (5G) technologies.

＜IT-related technical positions＞　

IT-related technical positions refer to roles that support IT services or are necessary for tasks such as system development and operations within the field of information technology.

The number of job openings in IT technical positions is generally on the rise. There are job listings for various themes such as in-house SE, manufacturing DX, data analysis, and cloud migration. Over the past decade, this field has seen the most significant expansion in job opportunities, and there is a high demand for IT engineers across various companies. Furthermore, the recruitment difficulty for IT positions, including hiring new graduates, is currently at its highest. This can be attributed to the wide range of career options available to IT engineers, including opportunities in SIer, IT consulting, SaaS companies, and major IT corporations, leading to intense competition in the hiring process compared to other professions.

IT engineers tend to have relatively frequent job changes, and this trend also contributes to the consistently high demand for IT positions in manufacturing companies. The turnover of IT HR is highly fluid compared to other professions, which has led to a continuous high turnover of job listings in this field. Companies are also increasingly favoring flexible working environments, with many actively implementing remote work and introducing flexible scheduling options. Due to the high level of difficulty and measurable experience, individuals with certifications such as Applied Information Technology Engineer, PMP, Information Security Management, CCNP, and SSCP are in even higher demand.

■Future of the Manufacturer Career Change Market: Analysis by Ties

Companies that had been cautious about their hiring activities due to the impact of COVID-19 and the sharp depreciation of the yen, continue to resume their hiring efforts. Additionally, there is a continued trend of increased hiring activities in the overall manufacturing job market due to factors such as the future decline in the working-age population caused by the declining birthrate and aging population, as well as the need to secure talent for the succession of skills, particularly with the retirement of the baby boomer generation.

While there are influences like the surge in oil prices and the semiconductor shortage contributing to a slowdown in the global economy and rising prices, the urgency of digitalization remains a priority. Many companies are facing talent shortages, and as a result, the job market for manufacturing and production industries is expected to see an overall increase in opportunities.

Heading into the second half of 2023, there is an intensifying competition for new graduate recruitment, leading some companies to focus on strengthening their hiring of young professionals, including recent graduates. Additionally, companies looking to expand their operations are actively seeking highly specialized middle-aged professionals with knowledge and experience to reinforce their organizations. This trend is expanding opportunities for both young and middle-aged professionals to explore new career prospects through job changes.

■For manufacturing industry career transitions, choose “Ties”

Manufacturing encompasses a wide range of job types and industries, and comparing and considering potential career transitions from scratch can be time-consuming and challenging. Even for those with manufacturing experience, it’s not uncommon to have concerns about questions like “What is the market value of my career and experience?” or “In which other industries could my skills be applicable?”.

Since its establishment, Ties has accumulated a track record of job placements and recruitment support primarily for major manufacturers. This has allowed us to build deep insights and relationships within various companies and industries. As a result, we handle numerous confidential job openings not listed on other service websites, including exclusive opportunities that only Ties can offer. With consultants specializing in manufacturing job transitions, we provide precise advice and support from a third-party perspective, guiding job seekers to success in their career transitions.

Ties will continue to leverage its unique and extensive job offerings and matchmaking expertise to support job seekers who aspire to work in manufacturing companies. 

■Ties Co., Ltd. Company Profile

Since its establishment in 2005, Ties has been exclusively dedicated to providing career transition support within the manufacturing sector. Ties’ consultants are well-versed in the intricacies of manufacturing jobs, enabling them to offer highly specialized assistance to job seekers. 
［Company Name］Ties Co., Ltd.
［Headquarters Location］HERBIS ENT Office Tower 23^rd Floor, 2-2-22 Umeda Kita-ku, Osaka City, Osaka
［Established］July 22, 2005
［Representative］Eiji Hirooka, Representative Director
［Business Profile］Job placement business specializing in manufacturers
［Services］Ties：https://www.ee-ties.com/
［URL］https://www.ee-ties.com/about/
［Official Twitter］https://twitter.com/tiesTenshoku
［Official YouTube］https://www.youtube.com/cha