New regional findings highlight market-specific implications for Japanese companies planning ASEAN expansion and Japanese professionals across the region

TOKYO, Sept. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As Japanese companies continue looking to Southeast Asia for growth and Japanese professionals increasingly consider careers across the region, new data shows that a one-size-fits-all strategy cannot be applied across the ASEAN region.

The Great Restructuring: ASEAN Consumer & Business Pulse Survey 2026, published by Reeracoen Group, a leading Asia-based recruitment and HR solutions group, in partnership with Rakuten Insight, surveyed 3,630 consumers and business leaders across Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam in June 2026. The findings show leadership across several of the region’s key workforce and business indicators split between different markets: Vietnam leads on consumer optimism, Indonesia on business confidence and career mobility, Thailand on business investment growth, and Singapore on AI and technology investment — with no single market leading on every measure.

Indonesia: Highest business confidence at 66% and highest career mobility, with 29% considering a career change.Malaysia: Strongest domestic-market orientation, with 75% of businesses identifying their home market as their top growth opportunity.The Philippines: Strong business confidence at 65%, highlighting continued business optimism and opportunities in a resilient market.Singapore: Leads the six markets in AI and technology investment intent at 33%.Thailand: Leads the six markets in business investment growth, with 28% of businesses increasing investment.Vietnam: Leads on consumer optimism at 48%, while 16% of businesses are expanding headcount and 46% report improving revenue.

Hiring strategies evolve across ASEAN

Across the six markets, businesses are taking a more targeted approach to workforce growth, with selective hiring cited by 32% to 47% of businesses, while 7% to 16% are actively expanding headcount. Vietnam records the highest hiring-expansion rate at 16%.

Beyond hiring, operational efficiency is the most cited growth opportunity across all six markets, ranging from 35% to 43%, while technology and AI rank among the top three at 24% to 33%.

For Japanese businesses operating or expanding across ASEAN, these differences highlight opportunities across markets while reinforcing the importance of market-specific hiring strategies and a strong understanding of local talent needs.

Technology and income priorities shape talent decisions

In Vietnam, 39% of consumers considering a career change cite AI and automation as their primary motivator, ahead of income growth and work-life balance. It is the only market surveyed where AI and automation rank first among career-change drivers. AI also features prominently among career-change motivations in Singapore at 32% and Indonesia at 30%.

Income diversification is another notable trend, with 71% of consumers in Indonesia and 70% in the Philippines actively seeking additional income—the leading financial response to economic pressure in both markets.

Kosuke Soejima, Managing Director, Reeracoen Japan, said:

“For Japanese companies expanding into Southeast Asia, the biggest risk is treating ASEAN as a single market. This data shows six markets evolving in very different ways—on hiring, on investment, on what workers want from an employer. Understanding those differences market by market is exactly the kind of intelligence we aim to bring to our clients and candidates as they build careers and businesses across the region.”

Cheryl Ng, Country Director, Singapore, Rakuten Insight, said:

“The findings highlight how differently consumers and businesses are responding across ASEAN. For Japanese companies and professionals looking at the region, understanding these market-level differences is increasingly important when assessing opportunities, workforce needs and future growth.”

For the full six-market findings, including country-by-country profiles and a Leadership Playbook of eight strategic priorities for regional expansion, download The Great Restructuring: ASEAN Consumer & Business Pulse Survey 2026.

Download the report at:

https://www.reeracoen.co.jp/en/events/ra-asean-not-one-market-2026-japanese-companies-need-to-know?utm_source=jp_pr&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=asean_whitepaper_2026_japan

About Reeracoen Group

Reeracoen is a leading Asia-based recruitment and HR solutions group, connecting talent with forward-thinking organisations across the region. With 9 offices across 6 major Asian markets, Reeracoen combines deep local market expertise with cross-border recruitment capabilities to support sustainable business growth.

Beyond recruitment, Reeracoen provides market intelligence, workforce insights, salary research, and employer advisory services, helping organisations make informed talent and business decisions in an evolving regional economy.

Reeracoen’s commitment to service excellence has been recognised through multiple industry awards, including Best Recruitment & Talent Acquisition Agency (2025, 2026), Client Service Excellence Award (2026), Best International Recruitment & Talent Acquisition Agency (2024), and Best Executive Recruitment Agency (2024).

For more information, visit https://www.reeracoen.co.jp/.

About Rakuten Insight Singapore

Rakuten Insight Singapore is the Southeast Asia hub of Rakuten Insight, Inc., a wholly-owned online market research subsidiary of Rakuten Group, Inc. Established in 1997 as AIP Corporation and integrated into the Rakuten Group in 2014, Rakuten Insight operates a research panel focused on 12 major Asian markets, with a panel network spanning 60 countries and regions.

With offices in 11 countries and regions, the company provides market research for more than 500 leading companies worldwide. Rakuten Insight Singapore serves as a regional hub providing multi-lingual and multi-functional operational support for clients across Southeast Asia.

For more information, visit https://insight.rakuten.com.

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SOURCE Reeracoen Group

LAS VEGAS, Sept. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The gaming industry honored Aristocrat Gaming at the Global Gaming Awards Americas today with an impressive list of accolades. The awards underscore Aristocrat’s continued leadership in delivering innovative gaming and connected player experiences for customers around the world. The company took home the following awards:

Class 2 Land-Based Supplier of the YearClass 3 Land-Based Supplier of the YearSlot of the Year for MONOPOLY Big Board Bucks™

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This is the eighth consecutive year that Aristocrat Gaming has been honored as Land-Based Supplier of the Year for Class 3, second consecutive year for Land-Based Supplier of the Year for Class 2, and the eighth consecutive year the company has been recognized for Slot of the Year.

“We’re both proud and humbled to be recognized on one of the industry’s biggest stages,” said Craig Toner, CEO of Aristocrat Gaming. “This extensive recognition reinforces our tireless commitment to develop premium products and experiences that drive meaningful performance for our customers.”

To experience the comprehensive lineup of connected gaming experiences from Aristocrat, visit booth #1133 at the Global Gaming Expo this week at The Venetian Expo.

ABOUT ARISTOCRAT GAMING 
Aristocrat Gaming is a leading designer, manufacturer, and distributor of regulated land-based slot and electronic games across the globe. From award-winning games and hardware to unique game mechanics and leading performance, Aristocrat Gaming delivers the best seat in the house wherever and whenever the world plays. Part of Aristocrat Leisure Limited (ASX: ALL), Aristocrat Gaming delivers end-to-end solutions to customers in more than 300 jurisdictions across the globe. We strive to be an industry leader in responsible gameplay, as part of ensuring a vibrant and sustainable industry. For further information, visit the company’s website at www.aristocratgaming.com. Follow Aristocrat Gaming on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Media Contacts: 
Meghan Speranzo 
meghan.speranzo@aristocrat.com 

Chelsea Eugenio 
chelsea.eugenio@aristocrat.com 

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SOURCE Aristocrat Technologies, Inc.

The Swiss-made triple-wavelength diode laser combines European components with integrated contact cooling for aesthetic and medical clinics.

ROGGWIL, Switzerland, Sept. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Honest Lasers announces the global launch of the Honest Pro. The new clinical-grade diode laser system is manufactured in Switzerland with European components and combines three wavelengths within one platform. Honest Pro was developed for aesthetic and medical clinics that need consistent energy delivery, long-term equipment stability, and technology built for regular clinical use.

The launch expands Honest Lasers’ work in professional diode laser manufacturing as the company marks nearly a decade in the sector. Its engineering approach focuses on system performance across repeated treatments, including component durability and consistent energy output.

Three Wavelengths Operate in One System

Honest Pro uses a triple-wavelength architecture combining 755, 808, and 1064 nm wavelengths. Each wavelength interacts with melanin and reaches different depths, allowing practitioners to treat a range of hair and skin characteristics in a single system.

The architecture supports a maximum pulse rate of 10 Hz. Honest Lasers designed the system around stable fluence delivery during repeated use, an area the manufacturer identifies as important when clinics evaluate equipment beyond peak specifications.

For clinic owners, those engineering details can affect how a laser fits into a treatment schedule. Equipment used throughout a workday must operate predictably across successive appointments, placing demands on the complete system as well as its individual specifications.

Cooling Accompanies Energy Delivery

Temperature management is another component of the Honest Pro design. An integrated contact cooling system reaches temperatures as low as -5°C to help protect the epidermis during treatment.

Combining cooling with the three wavelengths allows the system to manage energy delivery while addressing the skin surface. Honest Lasers developed the platform for use across all skin types, with the wavelength configuration balancing melanin absorption and controlled penetration depth.

The handpiece is rated for more than 50 million shots. That lifespan reflects the company’s focus on equipment designed for sustained professional use, where component longevity can factor into purchasing and operational decisions.

Swiss Engineering Shapes the Launch

Honest Lasers manufactures the Honest Pro in Switzerland using European-origin components. The company says this manufacturing approach reflects its emphasis on precision, energy stability, and system reliability throughout the equipment’s working life.

The global launch also establishes the direction Honest Lasers plans to pursue as it expands its presence among aesthetic practitioners, dermatologists, and medical clinics. Future development will continue focusing on diode laser engineering and equipment designed for consistent use in professional settings.

The launch brings that engineering approach to clinics worldwide as Honest Lasers expands access to its Swiss-manufactured system. The company plans to continue developing diode laser technology around the demands of long-term professional use.

About Honest Lasers: Honest Lasers is a Swiss manufacturer of professional diode laser systems for aesthetic and medical clinics. The company develops triple-wavelength technology using European components, with an engineering focus on energy stability, cooling, component durability, and predictable operation.

Its Honest Pro system combines 755, 808, and 1064 nm wavelengths with integrated contact cooling and a handpiece rated for more than 50 million shots.

Media Contact:
Name: Media Relations
Email: info@honestlasers.com
Website: https://honestlasers.com

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