【GMO NIKKO】【Gen Z Trend Lab byGMO】Survey of 436 Gen Z Individuals: University Students Focus on "Money," Working Adults on "Not Overdoing It"
GMO NIKKO's "Gen Z Trend Lab byGMO" conducted a survey of 436 Gen Z individuals entering new life stages this spring. The survey revealed distinct characteristics in their expectations, anxieties, desires for change, and challenges across different life stages. High school freshmen showed strong tension regarding human relationships, university freshmen a high awareness of money, and new working adults a clear work-life balance orientation. This report provides insights for developing appropriate messaging and promotion strategies tailored to each life stage.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 8, 2026 at 20:00
- 🔍 Collected: May 8, 2026 at 11:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 9, 2026 at 01:17 (13h 45m after Collected)
GMO NIKKO Inc. (Note 1), a member of the GMO Internet Group, through its "Gen Z Trend Lab byGMO," conducted a "Survey on New Life Awareness" targeting a total of 436 new high school freshmen, new university freshmen, and new working adults who are starting new lives this spring. Spring, with its transitions to higher education or employment, is a significant turning point where Gen Z's values and behaviors undergo major changes. Therefore, this survey was conducted with the aim of clarifying the differences in awareness and interests of Gen Z across different life stages as they embark on new lives.
The survey results revealed that the characteristics of expectations, anxieties, desires for change, and challenges for new life clearly differ by life stage. In particular, new high school freshmen showed strong tension regarding human relationships, university students a high awareness of money, and working adults a clear work-life balance orientation. These survey results can be used to formulate appropriate messaging and promotion strategies tailored to each life stage.
(Note 1) GMO NIKKO is a consolidated subsidiary of GMO Internet Inc.
【Survey Summary】
■ Common Ground Across Generations — What All Gen Z Seek in New Life: "Connection" and "Learning"
Regardless of life stage, a positive desire to connect with others and learn in a new environment is common among Gen Z individuals starting new lives.
■ New High School Freshmen: A Mix of Expectations and Anxieties for "High School Debut."
The top concern for new life was "relationships with friends and classmates" (40.2%). Contrary to the expectations of a so-called "high school debut," the strong tension regarding human relationships in a new community stood out.
■ New University Freshmen: First, "Part-time Job" upon becoming a university student. A period when economic independence awareness sprouts with "money" as a keyword.
The top challenge for new life was "part-time job" (33.3%), and among things they want to change about themselves in new life, "reviewing how money is spent" was third (27.4%). This strongly reflects that the beginning of university life is a period when they first become aware of economic independence.
■ New Working Adults: A "Life-sized" Balance Orientation. Consciously balancing work and life from the start, a "not overdoing it" working adult debut.
Among things they want to change about themselves in new life, "improving lifestyle habits" and "spending time true to oneself without overdoing it" were tied for second place (23.2%). This highlights an attitude of valuing self-identity and maintaining self-condition while adapting to work.
【Survey Overview】
・Survey Theme: Survey on 'Gen Z's New Life'
・Survey Period: March 27 (Fri), 2026 – March 29 (Sun), 2026
・Survey Organizer: "Gen Z Trend Lab byGMO" (GMO NIKKO Inc.)
・Survey Region: Japan
・Target Audience: 436 males and females aged 15-28 who are starting new lives this spring (189 new high school freshmen, 135 new university freshmen, 112 new working adults)
・Survey Method: Internet survey
【Detailed Survey Results】
■ Question: What are you looking forward to in your new life?
"New encounters/human relationships" and "new learning/work" ranked high for all new high school freshmen, new university freshmen, and new working adults. Regardless of life stage, the expectation for human connections and learning in a new environment is common among Gen Z.
New High School Freshmen
The third place was "being able to live in a new environment," indicating a positive feeling towards high school life, such as different friends, classes, club activities, and school events compared to junior high school.
New University Freshmen
The third place was "expanded free time and scope of activity" at 32.6%, reflecting the expectation of liberation due to increased freedom of action from high school to university.
New Working Adults
"Being able to live in a new environment," "feeling personal growth and change," and "living in a new town/place" were all tied at 23.2%, indicating an expectation for significant life changes, such as starting to live alone.
■ Question: What are you anxious about in your new life?
New High School Freshmen
Following the top concern, "relationships with friends and classmates" (40.2%), "keeping up with studies" (39.2%) and "achieving results in academics" (37.6%) also showed high figures, highlighting strong tension in both human relationships and academics.
New University Freshmen
The top concern was "achieving results in academics" (33.3%), followed by "keeping up with studies" (30.4%), with academic anxieties dominating the top ranks. Anxiety about human relationships (25.2%) was somewhat calmer compared to high school students. This reflects the reality of today's Gen Z university students, who can easily build connections in diverse communities through SNS, etc., even before enrollment.
New Working Adults
The top concern was "conversations with strangers" (31.3%), indicating unavoidable communication in the workplace.
The survey results revealed that the characteristics of expectations, anxieties, desires for change, and challenges for new life clearly differ by life stage. In particular, new high school freshmen showed strong tension regarding human relationships, university students a high awareness of money, and working adults a clear work-life balance orientation. These survey results can be used to formulate appropriate messaging and promotion strategies tailored to each life stage.
(Note 1) GMO NIKKO is a consolidated subsidiary of GMO Internet Inc.
【Survey Summary】
■ Common Ground Across Generations — What All Gen Z Seek in New Life: "Connection" and "Learning"
Regardless of life stage, a positive desire to connect with others and learn in a new environment is common among Gen Z individuals starting new lives.
■ New High School Freshmen: A Mix of Expectations and Anxieties for "High School Debut."
The top concern for new life was "relationships with friends and classmates" (40.2%). Contrary to the expectations of a so-called "high school debut," the strong tension regarding human relationships in a new community stood out.
■ New University Freshmen: First, "Part-time Job" upon becoming a university student. A period when economic independence awareness sprouts with "money" as a keyword.
The top challenge for new life was "part-time job" (33.3%), and among things they want to change about themselves in new life, "reviewing how money is spent" was third (27.4%). This strongly reflects that the beginning of university life is a period when they first become aware of economic independence.
■ New Working Adults: A "Life-sized" Balance Orientation. Consciously balancing work and life from the start, a "not overdoing it" working adult debut.
Among things they want to change about themselves in new life, "improving lifestyle habits" and "spending time true to oneself without overdoing it" were tied for second place (23.2%). This highlights an attitude of valuing self-identity and maintaining self-condition while adapting to work.
【Survey Overview】
・Survey Theme: Survey on 'Gen Z's New Life'
・Survey Period: March 27 (Fri), 2026 – March 29 (Sun), 2026
・Survey Organizer: "Gen Z Trend Lab byGMO" (GMO NIKKO Inc.)
・Survey Region: Japan
・Target Audience: 436 males and females aged 15-28 who are starting new lives this spring (189 new high school freshmen, 135 new university freshmen, 112 new working adults)
・Survey Method: Internet survey
【Detailed Survey Results】
■ Question: What are you looking forward to in your new life?
"New encounters/human relationships" and "new learning/work" ranked high for all new high school freshmen, new university freshmen, and new working adults. Regardless of life stage, the expectation for human connections and learning in a new environment is common among Gen Z.
New High School Freshmen
The third place was "being able to live in a new environment," indicating a positive feeling towards high school life, such as different friends, classes, club activities, and school events compared to junior high school.
New University Freshmen
The third place was "expanded free time and scope of activity" at 32.6%, reflecting the expectation of liberation due to increased freedom of action from high school to university.
New Working Adults
"Being able to live in a new environment," "feeling personal growth and change," and "living in a new town/place" were all tied at 23.2%, indicating an expectation for significant life changes, such as starting to live alone.
■ Question: What are you anxious about in your new life?
New High School Freshmen
Following the top concern, "relationships with friends and classmates" (40.2%), "keeping up with studies" (39.2%) and "achieving results in academics" (37.6%) also showed high figures, highlighting strong tension in both human relationships and academics.
New University Freshmen
The top concern was "achieving results in academics" (33.3%), followed by "keeping up with studies" (30.4%), with academic anxieties dominating the top ranks. Anxiety about human relationships (25.2%) was somewhat calmer compared to high school students. This reflects the reality of today's Gen Z university students, who can easily build connections in diverse communities through SNS, etc., even before enrollment.
New Working Adults
The top concern was "conversations with strangers" (31.3%), indicating unavoidable communication in the workplace.