Twenty-three percent of major companies in Japan plan to hire more new graduates in fiscal 2015 than in fiscal 2014 starting in April, a Kyodo News survey showed Sunday.

A survey conducted last year showed that 18 percent of firms planned to expand their graduate intake in 2014. An increased readiness to expand employment was particularly evident among companies looking to grow internationally or operating in new business fields.

In response to a survey conducted between Feb. 24 and March 13, 24 companies of the 106 surveyed said they will increase hiring for fiscal 2015. By contrast 12 — or 11 percent, down from 19 percent the previous year — said they plan to reduce hiring.

Some 39 companies, or 37 percent, said their fiscal 2015 hiring will be at a similar level to fiscal 2014, while 31 firms, or 29 percent, said they have yet to determine their hiring plans.

The survey found 89 companies, or 84 percent, said the economic policies initiated by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, dubbed "Abenomics," had little impact on their hiring plans. The policies involve aggressive monetary easing and fiscal spending.

Among companies planning to significantly increase hiring are Nissan Motor Co., Panasonic Corp., Mizuho Financial Group Inc., Resona Holdings Inc., Fast Retailing Co. and Sharp Corp., according to the survey.

In a multiple-answer question about hiring criteria for candidates, 76 companies, or 72 percent, cited an ability to take action, followed by 45 firms, or 42 percent, who said that they that valued personality and sense of responsibility in their workers.

The survey also found that 57 companies, or 54 percent, have begun to conduct recruitment activities more than once a year.