Tokyo, Feb 26, 2013 - (ACN Newswire) - HR has had to shift its priorities back to commercial matters as more businesses focus on cost savings yet talent management remains one of the biggest challenges facing businesses in Japan, according to recruiting experts Hays.

The global economic downturn has created a dichotomy in many organisations - how do they cut costs while still addressing the skills shortage in different areas of the workforce?

According to the latest Hays Journal, out now, businesses need to recognise talent as an asset to be deployed within an organisation while HR needs to be more planned and strategic about how it goes about talent allocation.

"HR professionals have had to become even more innovative and commercially driven, with a need to understand and address talent shortages in the new landscape in different ways," says Jonathan Sampson, Regional Director of Hays in Japan.

"This means discovering where untapped sources of talent lie and evolving creative ways of attracting and identifying new talent. Then, all of these assets must be developed and allocated effectively through a business, so that the talent balance sheet constantly improves. This shift is necessary to provide the talent needed to help organisations emerge from the tough economic times and rise to new challenges."

Not only is talent management of increasing importance to the development and execution of an organisation's business strategy, but it has become a unique competitive advantage for businesses.

"Being proactive and deploying or sharing talented people within an organisation is what will make the difference for HR departments that are managing talent," says Jonathan.

"HR Professionals who understand corporate strategy and align it to the competitive landscape, the wider economic environment, technological changes and the behavioural and content preferences of the relevant talent communities are at a distinct advantage."

As it may be difficult to find talent to cover the top jobs, there's is also a strong need for businesses to develop programs that build talent over a longer timeframe.

"Businesses need to ensure talent is developed, for example, over the next five years so they will be ready to take on leadership roles," says Jonathan.

"This not only involves identifying the top talent in a business but determining the needs of those employees' in terms of mobility requirements, family situations and motivation."

To view the complete Hays Journal, please go to www.hays-journal.com .

Hays, the world's leading recruiting experts in qualified, professional and skilled people.

About Hays

Hays is the leading global specialist recruiting group. It is the expert at recruiting qualified, professional and skilled people worldwide.

Hays Specialist Recruitment Japan KK ("Hays") is the largest foreign recruitment company in Japan and operates across the private sector, dealing in permanent positions, contract roles and temporary assignments. Hays has been in Japan for more than a decade, and boasts a track record of success and growth.

Hays is the only foreign recruitment company in Japan to operate specialist business units composed of professionals with experience and expertise in the sectors they cover. Hays Japan's thirteen specialisms span Accountancy & Finance, Banking, Finance Technology, Human Resources, Hays Resource Management, Information Technology, Insurance, Legal, Life Sciences, Office Professionals, Property, Sales & Marketing and Supply Chain.

Hays is also the only foreign recruitment company in Japan to operate three local offices, serving the Kanto region from Akasaka and Shinjuku, and Kansai from central Osaka.

Hays Japan is the local representative office for Hays plc, which is a global company with more than 7,800 staff operating from 245 offices across 33 countries.

Hays operates in the following countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Chile, China, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UAE, the UK and the USA.

Source: Hays

Contact:

Keiko Asakura
Hays Japan
Marketing Manager
+81 3 3560 2813
Keiko.Asakura@hays.co.jp