A New Fiscal Year Starts Tomorrow! Over 60% of '26 New Graduates Expect a 'Workplace Environment Without Ruining Mental and Physical Health'. Survey on 'New Life'
A survey of 479 new and upcoming graduates by Boku to Watashi to Inc. reveals that Gen Z's top use for their first salary is 'self-reward' (43.6%). Additionally, 60% prioritize work-life balance and protecting their mental/physical well-being.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: March 31, 2026 at 20:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 1, 2026 at 13:39 (17h 39m after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 21, 2026 at 08:22 (474h 42m after Collected)
Boku to Watashi to Inc., which conducts planning and Emo-marketing® for Gen Z, conducted a survey on the realities of 'new life' targeting a total of 479 people, including new working adults graduating in 2026 and working adults who graduated in 2025.
A new fiscal year arrives amid continuing high prices and growing anxiety about living expenses. How will those starting their careers this spring spend their first 'starting salary'? Also, what expectations do these new working adults have for their upcoming new lives?
This survey explored the realities surrounding the new lives of new working adults, focusing mainly on the 2026 graduating class entering the workforce this spring, covering everything from how they use their starting salary to their working styles and career expectations.
Summary:
- The No. 1 use for starting salary is a 'reward for oneself'. Self-care and savings take priority over giving back to others.
- Popular rewards for new working adults are 'travel', 'fashion', and 'dining out'.
- The most common gift they want to give their families is 'dining out'. The top choices, such as travel and fashion, show a similar trend to self-rewards.
- 'Avoidance of unreasonableness' is preferred over flat human relationships. The true feelings about the workplace environment sought by new working adults.
- About 60% of new working adults expect a 'working style with work-life balance'. Mental and physical health is also emphasized.
- More than half of new working adults are conscious of 'whether their company experience will lead to their future career' even before joining.
The No. 1 use of starting salary is a 'reward for oneself'. Self-care and savings take priority over giving back to others.
First, we asked the '25 and '26 graduates (planned usage) how they would spend the 'starting salary' they receive as new working adults. The most common response was 'reward for oneself (fashion, home appliances, beauty, etc.) (43.6%)', accounting for over 40% of the answers.
Among them, the response rate for women was more than 10% higher than for men. Furthermore, since over 20% answered 'hobbies and leisure (travel, live concerts, supporting favorite idols, etc.) (26.5%)', there was a noticeable trend towards spending on self-care despite inflation.
The second most popular was 'savings (preparing for the future) (33.8%)'. In addition, 'allocating to living expenses (rent, utility bills, etc.) (27.4%)' accounted for over 20%, placing practical uses high on the list. Free-text answers included comments like 'I should have saved more money during my student days,' suggesting that they are feeling the burden of significant expenses for their new lives.
On the other hand, 'Presents or meals for family and people who helped me (28.0%)'...
A new fiscal year arrives amid continuing high prices and growing anxiety about living expenses. How will those starting their careers this spring spend their first 'starting salary'? Also, what expectations do these new working adults have for their upcoming new lives?
This survey explored the realities surrounding the new lives of new working adults, focusing mainly on the 2026 graduating class entering the workforce this spring, covering everything from how they use their starting salary to their working styles and career expectations.
Summary:
- The No. 1 use for starting salary is a 'reward for oneself'. Self-care and savings take priority over giving back to others.
- Popular rewards for new working adults are 'travel', 'fashion', and 'dining out'.
- The most common gift they want to give their families is 'dining out'. The top choices, such as travel and fashion, show a similar trend to self-rewards.
- 'Avoidance of unreasonableness' is preferred over flat human relationships. The true feelings about the workplace environment sought by new working adults.
- About 60% of new working adults expect a 'working style with work-life balance'. Mental and physical health is also emphasized.
- More than half of new working adults are conscious of 'whether their company experience will lead to their future career' even before joining.
The No. 1 use of starting salary is a 'reward for oneself'. Self-care and savings take priority over giving back to others.
First, we asked the '25 and '26 graduates (planned usage) how they would spend the 'starting salary' they receive as new working adults. The most common response was 'reward for oneself (fashion, home appliances, beauty, etc.) (43.6%)', accounting for over 40% of the answers.
Among them, the response rate for women was more than 10% higher than for men. Furthermore, since over 20% answered 'hobbies and leisure (travel, live concerts, supporting favorite idols, etc.) (26.5%)', there was a noticeable trend towards spending on self-care despite inflation.
The second most popular was 'savings (preparing for the future) (33.8%)'. In addition, 'allocating to living expenses (rent, utility bills, etc.) (27.4%)' accounted for over 20%, placing practical uses high on the list. Free-text answers included comments like 'I should have saved more money during my student days,' suggesting that they are feeling the burden of significant expenses for their new lives.
On the other hand, 'Presents or meals for family and people who helped me (28.0%)'...