[ABABA Research] 2 out of 3 students feel the pressure that 'Job Hunting Failure = Life is Over'. Concerns over 'June Job Hunting Sickness' as recruitment season opens.

ABABA Inc. (Headquarters: Shibuya, Tokyo; CEOs: Shunki Kubo, Tatsuya Nakai) conducted a survey on the 'Reality of Job Hunting During the May Blues' among 356 university students scheduled to graduate in March 2027. In this survey, the company defined the state of falling into poor mental health during Golden Week due to early recruitment as 'May Job Hunting Sickness,' and the crisis of escalating stress following the June 1st recruitment opening as 'June Job Hunting Sickness.' The results shed light on the chronic anxiety and honest feelings held by all job seekers, regardless of whether they have received job offers, which are often overlooked by market statistics.

[Summary of Survey Results]
1. Nearly half (47.2%) of job seekers suffer from mental health issues. 60% of those without offers and over 40% of those with offers face 'May Job Hunting Sickness.'
It was found that 47.2% (168 people) are aware of mental health issues such as insomnia. While over 60% (63.5%, 61 people) of those without offers reported symptoms, even among those with offers (260 people)—often perceived as 'safe'—over 40% (41.2%, 107 people) reported symptoms like lack of concentration and insomnia. This proves that 'May Job Hunting Sickness' affects everyone equally. Furthermore, about 40% (39.2%, 102 people) of those with offers could not rest during Golden Week, indicating that the endless pressure to continue activities is exhausting students regardless of their offer status.

2. 2 out of 3 (67.1%) feel the psychological pressure that 'Job Hunting Failure = Life is Over.'
67.1% (239 people) answered that they always or sometimes feel that their life would be over if they failed to find a job. While 42.4% (151 people) are considering careers with the premise of changing jobs, 72.2% (257 people) believe that the company they join as a new graduate determines their life, creating immense pressure.

3. Unfair selection processes lead to 21.1% of students dropping out, causing recruitment losses for companies.
While 90.5% (322 people) prioritize their 'peace of mind and sense of satisfaction,' 62.6% (223 people) have experienced unfair treatment such as 'silent rejections' (38.2%) or high-pressure interviews (27.5%). Analysis shows that 21.1% (75 people) choose to drop out of the selection process when faced with such treatment, leading to critical recruitment losses for companies.

4. About 30% (28.4%) feel uncomfortable with a 'lack of consideration for diversity.'
28.4% (101 people) felt uncomfortable with organizational culture or behavior during interviews and interactions. Specific issues included 'outdated values like male chauvinism' (17.7%) and 'lack of same-sex role models' (11.0%), as well as 'inappropriate questions about life plans' (5.9%). Students are strictly evaluating corporate culture beyond just the hiring process.

5. Dissatisfaction with the job hunting system: 32.3% explicitly wrote about the 'harm of early and prolonged recruitment.'
In free-text responses, 32.3% of students expressed dissatisfaction with the system, citing that the government's rules have become a mere formality and that the early start is sacrificing their student life.