Job change service 'doda' announces '2026 Popular Companies for Job Change Ranking', with Toyota, Google, Sony topping for 7 consecutive years

Persol Career Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President and Representative Director: Hiroshi Senoo) operates the job change service 'doda'. The company surveyed 5,154 business people aged 22-59 on 'companies they want to work for' and compiled the results as the 'doda 2026 Popular Companies for Job Change Ranking'. We are pleased to announce the findings.

Details of the survey results: '2026 Popular Companies for Job Change Ranking'

Toyota, Google, and Sony have been in the top 3 for 7 consecutive years.

The 2026 ranking (overall) showed that for the seventh year since 2020, the top three were: 1st: Toyota Motor Corporation, 2nd: Google, 3rd: Sony.

[Table 1: Overall ranking 1st to 3rd]

First, Toyota ranked first in 18 out of 31 survey categories, including the overall ranking. It maintained its position in all 17 categories where it was first last year, and this year it also ranked first in the 20s age group category. Its voting points remained almost unchanged from the previous year, widening the gap with second-place Google from about 2,200 points last year to about 2,300 points. Reasons for choosing Toyota (multiple choices) included 'good salary and benefits', 'seems stable for long-term work', 'high corporate brand recognition', and 'good corporate image'.

Second-place Google ranked first in four categories, including 'Industry: Internet, Advertising, Media' and 'Gender: Female'. Reasons for choosing Google included 'good salary and benefits', 'seems to have many excellent employees', 'high corporate brand recognition', and 'seems to offer global opportunities'.

Third-place Sony ranked second in three categories and consistently scored well across many categories, maintaining its position for the seventh consecutive year. Reasons for choosing Sony included 'high corporate brand recognition', 'good salary and benefits', 'like the services/products', and 'good corporate image'. Comments such as 'excellent as an IT company' were also received. In April 2026, news reported that Sony, together with SoftBank (14th), NEC (31st), and Honda (15th), established a new company to develop domestic AI※1.

Looking at the reasons for choosing the top three (multiple choices), 'good salary and benefits' and 'seems stable for long-term work' were among the top reasons. In fact, Toyota has achieved full responses to its spring labor negotiations for six consecutive years since 2021, ensuring steady wage increases. Sony also attracted attention for reportedly offering a record wage increase of 24,000 yen in the 2026 spring labor negotiations※2.

※1: Nikkei: 'SoftBank establishes new company for domestic AI, with NEC, Honda and others investing' ※2: Yomiuri Shimbun: 'Sony Group raises wages up to 24,000 yen for chief level, largest increase under current system'

Nintendo rose two places to enter the top 5, while Ajinomoto promoting flexible work styles entered the top 10.

Fourth place went to Nintendo, which released the new model 'Nintendo Switch 2' in June 2025. The company has steadily risen from 13th in 2022, to 9th in 2023, 8th in 2024, 6th in 2025, and now to 4th, entering the top 5.

Among others, Ajinomoto, which promotes flexible work styles, jumped seven places from 14th to 7th※3. The company has been sharing content about work-life balance, such as 'closing at 4:30 PM', on social media, which may have contributed to its popularity. Comments from voters included 'I heard that as a food company, it offers flexible work styles' and 'It is famous for being easy to work at'.

Looking at the industries of the top 10 companies, the most common was 'Manufacturing (Machinery/Electronics)' with four companies including Toyota (1st) and Sony (3rd), followed by 'Internet/Advertising/Media' with two companies including Google (2nd) and Rakuten Group (6th). Expanding to the top 30, the most common industry was 'IT/Telecommunications' with six companies including Apple Japan (11th) and SoftBank (14th), followed by 'Manufacturing (Machinery/Electronics)' with five, 'Manufacturing (Materials/Chemicals/Food/Cosmetics/Other)' with four including Ajinomoto and Suntory Holdings (12th), and 'Internet/Advertising/Media' also with four.

In the top 30 ranking changes, notable risers included Ajinomoto (14th to 7th), Recruit Holdings (22nd to 17th), Oriental Land (24th to 18th), and NTT Docomo (34th to 26th).

※3: Ajinomoto AGF Co., Ltd.: 'Engagement with Employees'

Sanrio with strong business performance makes a significant jump.

Among companies within the top 50, seven companies rose by 10 or more positions compared to the previous survey: Mitsubishi Estate (71st to 35th), JTB (47th to 36th), Sanrio (88th to 42nd), Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (89th to 44th), CyberAgent (67th to 48th), Asahi Breweries (96th to 49th), and Calbee (61st to 50th).

Among these, Sanrio celebrated the 50th anniversary of its popular character in 2024, with strong business performance and expanding overseas. The company, which aims to expand its IP, has also been developing its game business. In January 2025, it released a game for Nintendo Switch, and in autumn 2026, it plans to globally release its first self-developed game for the same platform simultaneously※4. The company, beloved across generations, is attracting renewed attention through anniversaries, IP expansion, and full-scale entry into the game business.

Meanwhile, reasons for choosing Asahi Breweries (multiple choices) included 'like the services/products' and 'high corporate brand recognition'. Other points included 'good salary and benefits' and 'seems to have growth potential'. The company suffered a cyberattack in 2025 but managed to maintain production and supply, continuing operations. This response may have enhanced its corporate reliability.

※4: Sanrio Co., Ltd.: 'Launch of first in-house game brand 'Sanrio Games''

[Table 2: Overall ranking 4th to 30th]

*For 30th and below, refer to < https://doda.jp/guide/popular/ >

[Commentary from doda Editor-in-Chief] 'Against the backdrop of the 2025 problem and rising prices, companies that allow long-term work are gaining support.'

From 2025 to 2026, the so-called '2025 problem' is exacerbating labor shortages, and