[Survey of 110 Career Changers in their 30s] The biggest hurdle is not 'income decrease' but 'anxiety about age' at 52.7%. Over 40% regret 'not learning systematically'.

Nippon Design Inc. (Headquarters: Toshima-ku, Tokyo, Representative: Takuma Otsubo) announced the implementation of a career change reality survey among 110 individuals aged 30 to 39 who have experienced changing to a different industry/occupation or transitioning to a freelancer after the age of 30.

01 | Over 80% of career changers in their 30s are "satisfied" with the results, while the biggest hurdle at the time of decision was "anxiety about age" at 52.7%

02 | The most common response for "glad I did it" was "improvement of income and benefits" at 50.9%, and the top regret in preparation was "I should have learned systematically" (41.8%)

03 | Over 70% are considering further career changes

Survey Overview

Survey Name: Career Change Reality Survey for people in their 30s

Survey Method: Internet survey planned by "Resapy®︎", a research marketing service provided by IDEATECH

Survey Period: April 9, 2026 to April 10, 2026

Valid Responses: 110 individuals aged 30 to 39 who experienced changing to a different industry/occupation or transitioning to a freelancer after the age of 30.

*Because the total is set to 100%, fractions have been rounded for some figures. Therefore, there may be slight differences from the actual calculated values.

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Reasons for deciding on a career change: "No longer feeling a sense of purpose or growth at work" is the most at 47.3%, closely followed by "Improvement of salary and benefits" (46.4%)

When asked "Q1. Please tell us the reason why you decided to change careers. (Multiple answers allowed)" (n=110), 47.3% answered "Because I no longer felt a sense of purpose or growth at work", 46.4% answered "Because I wanted to improve my salary and benefits", and 36.4% answered "Because I wanted to make my strengths or things I like into my job".

Q1. Please tell us the reason why you decided to change careers. (Multiple answers allowed)

- Because I no longer felt a sense of purpose or growth at work: 47.3% - Because I wanted to improve my salary and benefits: 46.4% - Because I wanted to make my strengths or things I like into my job: 36.4% - Because I was anxious about my future career with my current skills and experience: 28.2% - Because I wanted to realize a flexible working style such as a side job or telework: 20.9% - Because I was dissatisfied with human relations and environment at the workplace: 20.9% - Because I reviewed my working style triggered by a life event (marriage, childbirth, nursing care, etc.): 9.1% - Other: 0.9% - Because the company I worked for went bankrupt - Don't know / Cannot answer: 1.8%

Time until decision, "1 month to half a year" accounts for over 40%

When asked "Q2. How long did it take from the time you started to be conscious of a career change to the time you actually made a decision?" (n=110), 41.9% answered "About 1 month to half a year", and 34.5% answered "About half a year to 1 year".

Q2. How long did it take from the time you started to be conscious of a career change to the time you actually made a decision?

- Barely hesitated (within 1 month): 10.0% - About 1 month to half a year: 41.9% - About half a year to 1 year: 34.5% - About 1 year to 2 years: 7.3% - 2 years or more: 4.5% - Don't know / Cannot answer: 1.8%

The biggest hurdle when deciding on a career change: "Anxious whether I could challenge an unexperienced field starting at my age" (52.7%)

When asked "Q3. Please tell us what you felt as a hurdle when deciding on a career change. (Multiple answers allowed)" (n=110), 52.7% answered "I was not confident whether I could challenge an unexperienced field starting at my age", 45.5% answered "There was a risk that my income would drop", and 34.5% answered "Getting understanding from family and partners".

Q3. Please tell us what you felt as a hurdle when deciding on a career change. (Multiple answers allowed)

- I was not confident whether I could challenge an unexperienced field starting at my age: 52.7% - There was a risk that my income would drop: 45.5% - Getting understanding from family and partners: 34.5% - It was difficult to judge the timing to quit my current workplace: 21.8% - I didn't know where to start: 17.3% - I was anxious whether I could find a job change destination or projects as a freelancer: 12.7% - Other: 3.6% - Nothing in particular: 0.9% - Don't know / Cannot answer: 0.9%

Career Change