Earning in the Field: A Career Choice in the AI Era. AC Cleaning Demand Rises 1.8x, Training Inquiries from Aspiring Freelancers Double

An unusual phenomenon is occurring at 'HOW PRO,' an academy specializing in home visit services operated by Shigotobito Inc. (Headquarters: Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Toshihiko Tsuruhara).

Training inquiries from individuals currently working as office employees who are considering a side job, career change, or starting their own business in air conditioner cleaning and home appliance repair have doubled compared to the same period last year. Furthermore, the number of requests for AC cleaning in April 2026 reached approximately 1.8 times that of the same month the previous year.

The underlying factors are the normalization of record-breaking heatwaves and the re-evaluation of 'manual skills' in the AI era.

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the average monthly temperature in Japan for April 2026 deviated by +1.89°C from the baseline, recording the third highest temperature for April since statistics began in 1898. The Japan Weather Association also announced that in 2026, demand for summer goods will rise during April in many regions, with many days anticipating early summer weather from April onwards.

As the risk of desk work being replaced by AI becomes a growing concern, office workers are rapidly turning their attention to 'jobs where you work with your hands in the field, and your output directly translates to income.'

## 'AI-Proof' Manual Skills

The perception of 'blue-collar' work has begun to change significantly over the past few years. In the past, field work was often described as 'physically demanding' or 'having an uncertain future.' However, while the value of field technical skills is being reassessed against the backdrop of labor shortages, the evolution of AI has made the possibility of certain white-collar tasks—such as administration, planning, and data processing—being replaced a realistic prospect.

Amidst this structural change, a shift in values is occurring, particularly among office workers considering side jobs or independence: moving from a 'career dependent on a company' to a 'career earning through one's own technical skills.'

A survey conducted by Tokyo Shoko Research in December 2025 showed that over half of companies, 56.4%, 'allow secondary or side jobs.' The environment for office workers to test new income streams on weekends or during their free time while maintaining their main job is becoming more established.

The most common consultation received by HOW PRO is, 'I want to start it just as a weekend side job while continuing my current work.' This is followed by, 'I am thinking of resigning and becoming independent within 6 months to a year,' and 'I have already resigned and am considering this as my next career.'

As the 'side job allowed' environment expands, air conditioner cleaning, which sees demand grow with every heatwave, is gaining attention as a low-risk entry point into a 'manual skill business.'

## Bookings Increasing from April

The direct cause of the 1.8-fold increase in requests is the 'bringing forward' of the AC cleaning peak season.

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency's 'Weather in April 2026,' the area around Japan was prone to being covered by warm air in April 2026, resulting in significantly higher monthly average temperatures nationwide. The deviation from the baseline for Japan's monthly average temperature was +1.89°C, making it the third hottest April on record, following 2024 and 1998.

In early April, the average temperature deviation for early-to-mid-month in Northern Japan was +3.1°C, recording the highest temperature for early April since statistics began in 1946. There were also areas in Eastern Japan that experienced mid-summer days (over 30°C) in mid-April.

This realization that 'it's hot from April' is changing consumer behavior.
'If it's going to get hot anyway, I'll order it early before it gets crowded.'
In 2026, bookings increased from mid-April, indicating a trend of entering the peak season about a month earlier than usual.

Furthermore, in the 3-month forecast announced by the Japan Meteorological Agency on May 19, 2026, temperatures from June to August are predicted to be 'high nationwide because they are easily covered by warm air.' In Eastern Japan, Western Japan, Okinawa, and Amami, there is a 70% probability that the 3-month average temperature will be higher than normal, and a 60% probability is predicted for Northern Japan.

## The Hottest Summer on Record, Over 100,000 Heatstroke Transports, and 'Severe Heat Days'

The rapid increase in demand for air conditioner cleaning is not a passing fad, but a movement rooted in climate change.