A subsidiary of major Japanese retailer Aeon says it is now hiring candidates who turned down the company's employment offers in the past. It's one of several leading Japanese firms changing long-held hiring practices to overcome an ongoing labor shortage.

Supermarket operator Aeon Retail says its new hiring system will give priority to these candidates. Some Japanese companies have started doing this as a way to speed up the hiring process and secure a sufficient workforce.

Aeon Retail says it will target young candidates who were given offers upon graduation, but declined. It says they will be given preferential consideration if they apply again within three years of graduation.

The company made the changes last month while reviewing its rehiring system for the first time in about 40 years.

Aeon Retail says it is also open to rehiring former workers who moved to other companies. The firm already hires former employees who left for childrearing and nursing care.