Japan's nuclear-power industry is on a hiring spree. Companies are expecting to see growing demand since the government recently indicated that it views nuclear energy as key to a carbon-free future.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries intends to hike hiring numbers by 40 percent over a two-year period starting sometime this year.

About 4,000 people work in nuclear fields at Mitsubishi Heavy and its affiliates. The number has shrunk by around 1,000 since the 2011 Fukushima nuclear accident.

More than 800 employees work at IHI Corporation's nuclear power-related fields. The number is up by around 150 from two years ago.

The Japanese government has adopted a plan to make maximum use of nuclear power to achieve its carbon-neutral target. This involves restarting plants that were shut down after the Fukushima disaster.