WorkCompanies weigh hiring cutbacks from next year amid ongoing labor shortageStudents head to a job fair in the city of Chiba to kick off job-hunting season. (Photo by Sae Kamae)Nikkei staff writersMay 23, 2026 06:28 JSTTOKYO/KYOTO, Japan -- Students graduating from Japanese universities benefited from a strong job market again this year, government data released Friday shows, though how long this seller's market will continue remains unclear as more companies adopt artificial intelligence.