AI Real Estate Investment Service RENOSY Conducts "2026 Survey on New Employees' Attitudes Towards First Salaries and Investment"
A survey by RENOSY, an AI real estate investment service, reveals a significant gap in financial outlook between first-year and second-year employees. First-year employees, benefiting from recent wage hikes, are more optimistic and view investment as a means for self-growth, with nearly 90% starting asset formation during their student years. In contrast, second-year employees are more cautious, prioritizing financial security and viewing investment as a defensive measure against economic uncertainty.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 14, 2026 at 20:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 14, 2026 at 11:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 14, 2026 at 15:22 (3h 50m after Collected)
RENOSY, the AI real estate investment service operated by GA technologies Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Ryo Higuchi; Securities Code: 3491), conducted the "2026 Survey on New Employees' Attitudes Towards First Salaries and Investment." The survey targeted 812 men and women aged 18-29, including "first-year employees" who joined the workforce in April 2026 and "second-year employees" who started in April 2025 and have completed one year of work.
This survey, which has been conducted since 2024, aims to clarify the spending habits and interest in asset formation among new members of the workforce.
The recent trend of "wage increases" is expected to affect this year's starting salaries, pushing them to high levels (*1). Therefore, in addition to our annual survey on investment attitudes, we also investigated how the social climate of "wage increases" influences young people's future outlook and how this is reflected in their asset formation. We will report the results through a comparison between first-year and second-year employees.
◆ Key Survey Findings
- 1 in 6 first-year employees has a starting salary of ¥300,000 or more, as nearly 90% now choose companies based on salary.
- A gap in true feelings about "wage increases": About 70% of first-year employees feel their "future is secure," while this figure drops to about 40% for second-year employees.
- Nearly 90% of first-year employees began asset formation as students, accelerating the trend of "early investment."
- The purpose of asset formation for first-year employees is "for self-investment and growth," while for second-year employees, it is for "defending their livelihood and preparation."
◆ Detailed Survey Results
(1) 1 in 6 First-Year Employees Has a Starting Salary of ¥300,000 or More. An Era Where Nearly 90% Choose Companies Based on Salary.
First, when we asked first-year and second-year employees about their gross monthly salary (face value) (*2), the proportion who reported a starting salary of ¥300,000 or more was 17.2% for first-year employees and 10.4% for second-year employees. First-year employees surpassed second-year employees by 6.8 percentage points, indicating that one in six is scheduled to receive a starting salary of ¥300,000 or more.
Next, when asked about "the importance of starting salary when selecting a job," it was found that 90.4% of first-year employees and 73.1% of second-year employees conducted their job search with an emphasis on starting salary. Notably, 43.2% of first-year employees who said they "placed very high importance" on it, far exceeding the 15.4% of second-year employees.
Considering the recent social climate of continuous wage increases and the results from (1), it can be inferred that a "high starting salary" has become an essential condition for first-year employees when choosing a company.
(2) A Gap in True Feelings About "Wage Increases": About 70% of First-Year Employees Feel Their "Future is Secure," While This Figure Drops to About 40% for Second-Year Employees.
Furthermore, when we investigated how the recent trend of wage increases affects their future, we found a difference between first-year and second-year employees.
To the question, "Do you feel your future is secure due to the trend of corporate wage increases?" 71.6% of first-year employees responded that they feel "secure (very secure / somewhat secure)." In contrast, only 41.8% of second-year employees felt the same, showing a gap between the two groups.
Their evaluation of their starting salary amount also showed different tendencies. Among first-year employees, the largest group felt their starting salary was "high (52.0%)," whereas among second-year employees, the most common response was "just right (47.8%)."
From these results, it is thought that the high starting salaries are creating a sense of psychological comfort for first-year employees. On the other hand, second-year employees, having experienced the burden of living costs due to price hikes and their actual "take-home pay" over a year of working, are likely more cautious about their finances.
(3) Nearly 90% of First-Year Employees Began Asset Formation as Students, Accelerating the Trend of "Early Investment."
Next, when asked about their "thoughts on asset formation," the percentage of those with experience in asset formation (currently doing it / have experience but not currently doing it) reached 86.7% for first-year employees and 62.1% for second-year employees. When including those who are interested, the figures rise to 94.7% for first-year employees and 89.9% for second-year employees, indicating that 90% of both groups are interested in investing.
In the 2025 survey (*3), the percentage of those with experience was about 60% for then-first-year employees and about 50% for second-year employees. The significant increase in the proportion of experienced individuals is likely due to the fact that four years have passed since the start of financial education for high school students. This has increased opportunities to see information about asset formation, leading to an accelerated trend of "early investment," where students become interested and take action while still in school.
(4) Purpose of Asset Formation: "For Self-Investment and Growth" for First-Years, "Defending Livelihood and Preparation" for Second-Years.
Finally, when we asked those who have experience or are interested in asset formation for their reasons, "anxiety about the future" was the most common answer for both first-year and second-year employees. A more detailed analysis of the breakdown revealed differences in their thinking about asset formation.
For first-year employees, top answers included "because I'm anxious about the future (13.7%)" and "to prepare for rising prices (13.4%)." Furthermore, answers like "I want to gain financial knowledge (11.2%)" and "I want to change jobs or start a business (11.2%)" were more common than among second-year employees. For first-year employees, asset formation is not just a preparation for vague future anxieties but is also seen as a "means for self-investment and growth" to expand their future options.
On the other hand, for second-year employees, "because I'm anxious about the future (17.6%)" was the most common, followed by "I'm happy when my assets grow (17.4%)" and "to prepare for rising prices (11.3%)." After a year of working life and realizing the weight of expenses like living costs, it is presumed that they feel joy in seeing their assets grow and view asset formation as a way to "defend their livelihood and prepare."
◆ Summary
In the "2026 Survey on New Employees' Attitudes Towards First Salaries and Investment," we not only surveyed investment awareness but also investigated how wage increases are reflected in young people's future outlook and their approach to asset formation, comparing first-year and second-year employees.
The results suggest that first-year employees have a sense of psychological comfort from high starting salaries and view asset formation as a positive "self-investment" to expand their potential. On the other hand, second-year employees, through their experience with the weight of living costs due to price hikes and working life, are practicing asset formation as a steady "preparation."
In a society that is constantly changing, with ongoing price hikes despite wage increases, the importance of considering asset formation from an early stage to prepare for the future is growing. RENOSY will continue to disseminate information that serves as a catalyst for asset formation, aiming to realize our brand vision of "making asset formation through real estate a matter of course."
◆ Survey Overview
Survey Period: March 6 (Fri) - March 13 (Fri), 2026
Survey Panel: Conducted by GA technologies Co., Ltd., using the questionnaire panel of JustSystems Corporation (Fastask)
Target: Men and women who joined the workforce as new graduates in April 2026 (first-year employees), or men and women who joined as new graduates in April 2025 and have completed one year of work (second-year employees)
Number of Respondents: 812 *Of which, 377 were first-year employees and 435 were second-year employees
Survey Method: Internet survey
*Response rates (%) are rounded to one decimal place, so the total may not necessarily be 100%.
*Company names and product/service names mentioned in this press release may be trademarks of their respective companies.
*When citing or quoting this survey, please clearly indicate the source.
Example: Source: RENOSY "2026 Survey on New Employees' Attitudes Towards First Salaries and Investment"
(*1) Teikoku Databank, Ltd. "Survey on Corporate Trends Regarding Starting Salaries (FY2026)" (February 18, 2026) https://www.tdb.co.jp/report/economic/20260218-startingsalary2026/
(*2) For first-year employees, the expected amount was surveyed; for second-year employees, the salary amount at the time was surveyed.
(*3) GA technologies Co., Ltd. "AI Real Estate Investment Service RENOSY Conducts '2025 Survey on New Employees' Attitudes Towards First Salaries and Investment'" (April 24, 2025) https://www.ga-tech.co.jp/news/b658j75qsvkk76m/
◆ AI Real Estate Investment "RENOSY"
"RENOSY" is an AI real estate investment service that utilizes technology. By providing a one-stop service for purchase, management, and sale, we enable secure, easy, and optimal asset formation through real estate, maximizing investment performance.
In a survey conducted by Tokyo Shoko Research, RENOSY has achieved the No. 1 position nationwide in both property sales performance and property purchase performance (*1) in real estate investment.
(*1) GA technologies Co., Ltd. "AI Real Estate Investment RENOSY Achieves No. 1 Nationwide for Second Consecutive Year in Sales Performance for Investment Condominiums and Apartments" (Announced March 31, 2026) https://www.ga-tech.co.jp/news/wherjxrzxv88n_r/
This survey, which has been conducted since 2024, aims to clarify the spending habits and interest in asset formation among new members of the workforce.
The recent trend of "wage increases" is expected to affect this year's starting salaries, pushing them to high levels (*1). Therefore, in addition to our annual survey on investment attitudes, we also investigated how the social climate of "wage increases" influences young people's future outlook and how this is reflected in their asset formation. We will report the results through a comparison between first-year and second-year employees.
◆ Key Survey Findings
- 1 in 6 first-year employees has a starting salary of ¥300,000 or more, as nearly 90% now choose companies based on salary.
- A gap in true feelings about "wage increases": About 70% of first-year employees feel their "future is secure," while this figure drops to about 40% for second-year employees.
- Nearly 90% of first-year employees began asset formation as students, accelerating the trend of "early investment."
- The purpose of asset formation for first-year employees is "for self-investment and growth," while for second-year employees, it is for "defending their livelihood and preparation."
◆ Detailed Survey Results
(1) 1 in 6 First-Year Employees Has a Starting Salary of ¥300,000 or More. An Era Where Nearly 90% Choose Companies Based on Salary.
First, when we asked first-year and second-year employees about their gross monthly salary (face value) (*2), the proportion who reported a starting salary of ¥300,000 or more was 17.2% for first-year employees and 10.4% for second-year employees. First-year employees surpassed second-year employees by 6.8 percentage points, indicating that one in six is scheduled to receive a starting salary of ¥300,000 or more.
Next, when asked about "the importance of starting salary when selecting a job," it was found that 90.4% of first-year employees and 73.1% of second-year employees conducted their job search with an emphasis on starting salary. Notably, 43.2% of first-year employees who said they "placed very high importance" on it, far exceeding the 15.4% of second-year employees.
Considering the recent social climate of continuous wage increases and the results from (1), it can be inferred that a "high starting salary" has become an essential condition for first-year employees when choosing a company.
(2) A Gap in True Feelings About "Wage Increases": About 70% of First-Year Employees Feel Their "Future is Secure," While This Figure Drops to About 40% for Second-Year Employees.
Furthermore, when we investigated how the recent trend of wage increases affects their future, we found a difference between first-year and second-year employees.
To the question, "Do you feel your future is secure due to the trend of corporate wage increases?" 71.6% of first-year employees responded that they feel "secure (very secure / somewhat secure)." In contrast, only 41.8% of second-year employees felt the same, showing a gap between the two groups.
Their evaluation of their starting salary amount also showed different tendencies. Among first-year employees, the largest group felt their starting salary was "high (52.0%)," whereas among second-year employees, the most common response was "just right (47.8%)."
From these results, it is thought that the high starting salaries are creating a sense of psychological comfort for first-year employees. On the other hand, second-year employees, having experienced the burden of living costs due to price hikes and their actual "take-home pay" over a year of working, are likely more cautious about their finances.
(3) Nearly 90% of First-Year Employees Began Asset Formation as Students, Accelerating the Trend of "Early Investment."
Next, when asked about their "thoughts on asset formation," the percentage of those with experience in asset formation (currently doing it / have experience but not currently doing it) reached 86.7% for first-year employees and 62.1% for second-year employees. When including those who are interested, the figures rise to 94.7% for first-year employees and 89.9% for second-year employees, indicating that 90% of both groups are interested in investing.
In the 2025 survey (*3), the percentage of those with experience was about 60% for then-first-year employees and about 50% for second-year employees. The significant increase in the proportion of experienced individuals is likely due to the fact that four years have passed since the start of financial education for high school students. This has increased opportunities to see information about asset formation, leading to an accelerated trend of "early investment," where students become interested and take action while still in school.
(4) Purpose of Asset Formation: "For Self-Investment and Growth" for First-Years, "Defending Livelihood and Preparation" for Second-Years.
Finally, when we asked those who have experience or are interested in asset formation for their reasons, "anxiety about the future" was the most common answer for both first-year and second-year employees. A more detailed analysis of the breakdown revealed differences in their thinking about asset formation.
For first-year employees, top answers included "because I'm anxious about the future (13.7%)" and "to prepare for rising prices (13.4%)." Furthermore, answers like "I want to gain financial knowledge (11.2%)" and "I want to change jobs or start a business (11.2%)" were more common than among second-year employees. For first-year employees, asset formation is not just a preparation for vague future anxieties but is also seen as a "means for self-investment and growth" to expand their future options.
On the other hand, for second-year employees, "because I'm anxious about the future (17.6%)" was the most common, followed by "I'm happy when my assets grow (17.4%)" and "to prepare for rising prices (11.3%)." After a year of working life and realizing the weight of expenses like living costs, it is presumed that they feel joy in seeing their assets grow and view asset formation as a way to "defend their livelihood and prepare."
◆ Summary
In the "2026 Survey on New Employees' Attitudes Towards First Salaries and Investment," we not only surveyed investment awareness but also investigated how wage increases are reflected in young people's future outlook and their approach to asset formation, comparing first-year and second-year employees.
The results suggest that first-year employees have a sense of psychological comfort from high starting salaries and view asset formation as a positive "self-investment" to expand their potential. On the other hand, second-year employees, through their experience with the weight of living costs due to price hikes and working life, are practicing asset formation as a steady "preparation."
In a society that is constantly changing, with ongoing price hikes despite wage increases, the importance of considering asset formation from an early stage to prepare for the future is growing. RENOSY will continue to disseminate information that serves as a catalyst for asset formation, aiming to realize our brand vision of "making asset formation through real estate a matter of course."
◆ Survey Overview
Survey Period: March 6 (Fri) - March 13 (Fri), 2026
Survey Panel: Conducted by GA technologies Co., Ltd., using the questionnaire panel of JustSystems Corporation (Fastask)
Target: Men and women who joined the workforce as new graduates in April 2026 (first-year employees), or men and women who joined as new graduates in April 2025 and have completed one year of work (second-year employees)
Number of Respondents: 812 *Of which, 377 were first-year employees and 435 were second-year employees
Survey Method: Internet survey
*Response rates (%) are rounded to one decimal place, so the total may not necessarily be 100%.
*Company names and product/service names mentioned in this press release may be trademarks of their respective companies.
*When citing or quoting this survey, please clearly indicate the source.
Example: Source: RENOSY "2026 Survey on New Employees' Attitudes Towards First Salaries and Investment"
(*1) Teikoku Databank, Ltd. "Survey on Corporate Trends Regarding Starting Salaries (FY2026)" (February 18, 2026) https://www.tdb.co.jp/report/economic/20260218-startingsalary2026/
(*2) For first-year employees, the expected amount was surveyed; for second-year employees, the salary amount at the time was surveyed.
(*3) GA technologies Co., Ltd. "AI Real Estate Investment Service RENOSY Conducts '2025 Survey on New Employees' Attitudes Towards First Salaries and Investment'" (April 24, 2025) https://www.ga-tech.co.jp/news/b658j75qsvkk76m/
◆ AI Real Estate Investment "RENOSY"
"RENOSY" is an AI real estate investment service that utilizes technology. By providing a one-stop service for purchase, management, and sale, we enable secure, easy, and optimal asset formation through real estate, maximizing investment performance.
In a survey conducted by Tokyo Shoko Research, RENOSY has achieved the No. 1 position nationwide in both property sales performance and property purchase performance (*1) in real estate investment.
(*1) GA technologies Co., Ltd. "AI Real Estate Investment RENOSY Achieves No. 1 Nationwide for Second Consecutive Year in Sales Performance for Investment Condominiums and Apartments" (Announced March 31, 2026) https://www.ga-tech.co.jp/news/wherjxrzxv88n_r/