Job Research Institute conducts '2026 New Graduate Salary Awareness Survey': 90% dissatisfied with salary inversion, but voices say 'increases are necessary' amid high prices

'Job Research Institute,' a research organization operated by Persol Career Co., Ltd., which provides the career change service 'doda' and other services, conducted a '2026 New Graduate Salary Awareness Survey' targeting 302 working men and women. This survey investigated the presence or absence of new graduate salary increases at their workplaces, their impressions of it, its impact on their desire to change jobs, the conditions under which they would find it acceptable for new graduates to have higher salaries than existing employees, and the necessity and pros and cons of raising new graduate salaries.

[Salary Inversion Due to Increased Starting Salaries]
Against the backdrop of intensifying competition for recruiting new graduates, a series of starting salary increases has occurred, leading to cases of salary inversion with existing employees. While raising starting salaries is progressing as a measure to secure talent, concerns are also spreading that it might lead to poor salary balance and a sense of unfairness with existing employees. On the other hand, in a 2025 Job Research Institute survey (*1), we introduced voices of new graduate employees themselves feeling apologetic when their salaries were raised beyond their own expectations. As starting salaries increase and salary amounts invert between new graduates and existing employees, what impression do working adults have of this situation?
Job Research Institute conducted the '2026 New Graduate Salary Awareness Survey' targeting 302 working men and women to investigate the presence or absence of new graduate salary increases at their workplaces, their impressions, its impact on the desire to change jobs, conditions for accepting new graduates earning more, and the necessity and approval of raising new graduate salaries.

[Survey Overview]
- Target Audience: Currently employed registrants of JobQ Town
- Survey Conditions: Nationwide / Men & Women / 20s to 50s
- Survey Period: March 18 to March 23, 2026
- Valid Responses: 302 people
- Survey Method: Internet survey

[TOPICS]
- 50.0% of the total say new graduate salaries will 'increase' at their workplace. If new graduates have higher salaries, it affects 'motivation' and 'desire to change jobs'
- 87.5% of the total 'feel unfair' if new graduates have higher salaries. The reason is 'difference in years of experience'
- 25.8% of the total can 'accept it depending on conditions' if new graduates have higher salaries. The acceptable condition is 'our own salaries also increase'
- 78.2% of the total say raising new graduate salaries is 'necessary'. Reasons are 'to secure talent' and 'because prices are rising'
- 73.5% of the total 'agree' with raising new graduate salaries. By years of service among those who agree, '16 years or more' is the most common

[Presence or Absence of New Graduate Salary Increases at Workplaces]
When the total of 302 respondents were asked about the presence or absence of new graduate salary increases at their workplaces, 'will increase' accounted for half at 50.0%, followed by 'don't know' at 27.2%, 'no change' at 20.9%, and 'will decrease' at 1.9%. In addition, when asked about the impact on motivation if new graduates earn more than themselves, the 'affects motivation faction' accounted for the vast majority at 82.7%, with the breakdown being 'greatly affects motivation' at 40.7%, 'affects motivation' at 23.8%, and 'somewhat affects motivation' at 18.2%.