Career Change Service 'doda' Survey on Average Age of Career Changers [2025 Edition]: Average Age is 32.9, Rising for the 3rd Consecutive Year
PERSOL CAREER's service 'doda' revealed that the average age of job changers in 2025 rose to 32.9 years, the third consecutive year of increase. Notably, career changes among those 24 and under, as well as 40 and over, have significantly surged over the past three years.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 13, 2026 at 19:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 13, 2026 at 16:35
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 19, 2026 at 20:09 (147h 34m after Collected)
The career change service 'doda' operated by PERSOL CAREER CO., LTD. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Yutaka Senoo) conducted a survey targeting business professionals who successfully changed jobs using the 'doda' agent service between January and December 2025. We investigated the average age at the time of their successful career change by gender and by pre-transition job category, and we are announcing the results.
Details of the survey results: Average Age of Career Changers Survey [2025 Edition]
[Survey Results Summary]
Overall: The average age of those who changed jobs in 2025 was 32.9, rising for the third consecutive year
Compared to the previous 2024 survey*, the average age increased by +0.2 years, marking the third consecutive year of increase since the survey began in 2022.
By gender, men averaged 33.8 years and women 31.4 years, both up +0.2 years from 2024, showing a three-year continuous increase akin to the overall trend.
By Age Group: The proportions of career changers 'aged 24 and under' and 'aged 40 and over' have significantly increased over the past 3 years.
The age group with the most career changers remains 'late 20s' as in the previous survey, followed by 'late 30s'.
Compared to 2022, the proportion of those 'aged 24 and under' is 11.6%, up +2.5pt, and 'aged 40 and over' is 17.5%, up +3.6pt.
By Job Category: The highest average age for career changes is 'Consultants / Real Estate Professionals (37.0 years)', and the lowest is 'Sales / Service (30.8 years)'.
The job category with the highest average career change age is 'Consultants / Real Estate Professionals' (37.0 years), followed by 'Planning / Management' (35.6 years) and 'Financial Professionals' (35.1 years).
Compared to 2022, the average career change age for the above categories has risen by 1.1 to 2.7 years, and they are notably characterized by a relatively high proportion of those 'aged 40 and over'.
The job category with the lowest average career change age is 'Sales / Service' at 30.8 years, featuring a high proportion of people in their 20s.
*: https://doda.jp/guide/age/2024/
[Main Survey Results]
Overall: The average age of those who changed jobs in 2025 was 32.9, rising for the third consecutive year.
The average age of individuals who changed jobs in 2025 was 32.9. It rose slightly by +0.2 years from the previous 2024 survey, continuing a three-year upward trend since the survey began in 2022. Broken down by gender, the average was 33.8 years for men and 31.4 years for women; both showed results similar to the overall trend when compared to both 2022 and 2024.
By Age Group: The proportions of career changers 'aged 24 and under' and 'aged 40 and over' have significantly increased over the past 3 years.
Regarding the age group breakdown of career changers, similar to the previous survey, the 'late 20s' cohort was the highest, followed by the 'early 30s'. On the other hand, the proportion of those 'aged 24 and under' reached 11.6%, an increase of 2.5 points compared to 2022. It is believed that the background to this includes cases where individuals consider changing jobs in pursuit of conditions and environments better suited to themselves, triggered by gaps experienced after joining a company regarding job content or workplace environment. Furthermore, the 'aged 40 and over' demographic also accounted for 13.9%, a 3.6 point increase compared to 2022. Reasons cited include growing needs from companies hiring middle-management layers, and the permeation among individuals of the values of re-evaluating their careers with the 10 to 20 years until retirement in mind.
By Job Category: The highest average career change age is 'Consultants / Real Estate Professionals' (37.0 years), and the lowest is 'Sales / Service' (30.8 years).
When observing the age group proportions of career changers categorized by 12 pre-transition job classifications, the job category with the highest average career change age was 'Consultants / Real Estate Professionals' (37.0 years). This was followed by 'Planning / Management' (35.6 years) and 'Financial Professionals' (35.1 years). In these professions, since the survey began in 2022, the average career change age has risen by 1.1 to 2.7 years, characterized by a relatively high proportion of individuals 'aged 40 and over'. In contrast, 'Sales / Service' recorded the lowest average career change age at 30.8 years, making it a profession with a high proportion of people in their 20s. From these results, trends also became apparent, such as job categories where accumulated expertise and experience are readily evaluated leading to career changes across a broader age range, versus job categories where career changes are active during the early stages of a career.
[Commentary by doda Editor-in-Chief]
Individuals who changed jobs in 2025
Details of the survey results: Average Age of Career Changers Survey [2025 Edition]
[Survey Results Summary]
Overall: The average age of those who changed jobs in 2025 was 32.9, rising for the third consecutive year
Compared to the previous 2024 survey*, the average age increased by +0.2 years, marking the third consecutive year of increase since the survey began in 2022.
By gender, men averaged 33.8 years and women 31.4 years, both up +0.2 years from 2024, showing a three-year continuous increase akin to the overall trend.
By Age Group: The proportions of career changers 'aged 24 and under' and 'aged 40 and over' have significantly increased over the past 3 years.
The age group with the most career changers remains 'late 20s' as in the previous survey, followed by 'late 30s'.
Compared to 2022, the proportion of those 'aged 24 and under' is 11.6%, up +2.5pt, and 'aged 40 and over' is 17.5%, up +3.6pt.
By Job Category: The highest average age for career changes is 'Consultants / Real Estate Professionals (37.0 years)', and the lowest is 'Sales / Service (30.8 years)'.
The job category with the highest average career change age is 'Consultants / Real Estate Professionals' (37.0 years), followed by 'Planning / Management' (35.6 years) and 'Financial Professionals' (35.1 years).
Compared to 2022, the average career change age for the above categories has risen by 1.1 to 2.7 years, and they are notably characterized by a relatively high proportion of those 'aged 40 and over'.
The job category with the lowest average career change age is 'Sales / Service' at 30.8 years, featuring a high proportion of people in their 20s.
*: https://doda.jp/guide/age/2024/
[Main Survey Results]
Overall: The average age of those who changed jobs in 2025 was 32.9, rising for the third consecutive year.
The average age of individuals who changed jobs in 2025 was 32.9. It rose slightly by +0.2 years from the previous 2024 survey, continuing a three-year upward trend since the survey began in 2022. Broken down by gender, the average was 33.8 years for men and 31.4 years for women; both showed results similar to the overall trend when compared to both 2022 and 2024.
By Age Group: The proportions of career changers 'aged 24 and under' and 'aged 40 and over' have significantly increased over the past 3 years.
Regarding the age group breakdown of career changers, similar to the previous survey, the 'late 20s' cohort was the highest, followed by the 'early 30s'. On the other hand, the proportion of those 'aged 24 and under' reached 11.6%, an increase of 2.5 points compared to 2022. It is believed that the background to this includes cases where individuals consider changing jobs in pursuit of conditions and environments better suited to themselves, triggered by gaps experienced after joining a company regarding job content or workplace environment. Furthermore, the 'aged 40 and over' demographic also accounted for 13.9%, a 3.6 point increase compared to 2022. Reasons cited include growing needs from companies hiring middle-management layers, and the permeation among individuals of the values of re-evaluating their careers with the 10 to 20 years until retirement in mind.
By Job Category: The highest average career change age is 'Consultants / Real Estate Professionals' (37.0 years), and the lowest is 'Sales / Service' (30.8 years).
When observing the age group proportions of career changers categorized by 12 pre-transition job classifications, the job category with the highest average career change age was 'Consultants / Real Estate Professionals' (37.0 years). This was followed by 'Planning / Management' (35.6 years) and 'Financial Professionals' (35.1 years). In these professions, since the survey began in 2022, the average career change age has risen by 1.1 to 2.7 years, characterized by a relatively high proportion of individuals 'aged 40 and over'. In contrast, 'Sales / Service' recorded the lowest average career change age at 30.8 years, making it a profession with a high proportion of people in their 20s. From these results, trends also became apparent, such as job categories where accumulated expertise and experience are readily evaluated leading to career changes across a broader age range, versus job categories where career changes are active during the early stages of a career.
[Commentary by doda Editor-in-Chief]
Individuals who changed jobs in 2025