[Survey of 177 Taxi Drivers] About 70% of Drivers in Their 20s–30s Say They Would Recommend the Job, and About 60% Believe an Annual Income of ¥10 Million Is Achievable

X Mile Inc. (pronounced "Crossmile"), a company providing recruitment and career support services for non-desk workers (headquartered in Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Hiroyuki Noro), has conducted a real-world survey of 177 active taxi drivers regarding their careers and job satisfaction. In the first report, it was revealed that approximately 61% of taxi drivers in Tokyo have experienced earning ¥1 million per month, highlighting the role as a frontline example of "blue-collar billionaires."

This second report focuses on taxi drivers' career perspectives and working styles. Notably, about 90% of drivers transitioned from other industries, and approximately 70% of those in their 20s–30s said they would recommend the job, indicating a shift in perception toward taxi driving, particularly among younger generations.

Survey Summary

- Approximately 90% of active taxi drivers have experience in other industries

- Over 40% have experience in office work

- Approximately 70% of drivers in their 20s–30s said they would recommend the job to others

- Approximately 60% of drivers in their 20s–30s believe an annual income of ¥10 million is achievable

- The main appeal of the job is "flexibility in scheduling," while key challenges include "income instability" and "physical strain"

▼ This press release can be viewed at:

Crosswork Career White Paper: https://x-work.jp/journal/taxi-wages02

※ When reproducing or quoting, please credit the source and include the link.

▼ First Report:
https://x-work.jp/journal/taxi-wages

88.7% Transitioned from Other Industries, Over 40% Have Office Work Experience

When asked, "Have you worked in jobs other than being a taxi driver?" 88.7% (157 people) answered "yes."

Further, when asked about "previous occupations before becoming a taxi driver (multiple selections allowed)," 48.59% (86 people) had experience only in on-site roles, 12.99% (23 people) had experience in both on-site and office roles, and 27.12% (48 people) had experience only in office roles.

The fact that only 11.30% (20 people) had experience solely as taxi drivers indicates that talent with diverse backgrounds is entering the profession. In particular, the proportion with office work experience exceeds 40%, at 40.11%.

Approximately 70% of Drivers in Their 20s–30s Would Recommend the Job, Significantly Higher Than Other Age Groups

When asked, "Would you recommend being a taxi driver to others?" clear differences emerged by age group.

The percentage who answered "strongly recommend" was 20.83% (20 people) among those in their 20s–30s, compared to 5.71% (2 people) among those in their 40s–50s and 2.71% (1 person) among those aged 60 and above, showing a trend of higher willingness among younger drivers.

Including those who answered "somewhat recommend," approximately 70% (68.75% / 66 people) of drivers in their 20s–30s expressed willingness to recommend the job, a significantly higher rate compared to other age groups. While those in their 40s–50s (48.57% / 17 people) and those aged 60 and above (43.47% / 20 people) both fell below 50%, only the 20s–30s group approached 70%, indicating strong support from younger generations.

"Can Aim for ¥10 Million Annual Income" – 59.38% of Drivers in Their 20s–30s Respond Positively

When asked, "Do you think being a taxi driver is a job where you can aim for an annual income of ¥10 million?" clear generational differences were again observed.

Among drivers in their 20s–30s, the combined percentage who answered "achievable with effort" or "easily achievable" reached 59.38% (57 people), compared to 27.72% (9 people) among those in their 40s–50s and 19.57% (9 people) among those aged 60 and above.

Since most taxi drivers are paid on a commission basis, achieving an annual income of ¥10 million requires significant sales performance. The results suggest that younger drivers have higher motivation and optimism regarding performance-based compensation.

Looking at actual monthly income, the largest group earns "¥300,000–¥400,000" (50 people, 28.2%), followed by "¥200,000–¥300,000" (46 people, 26.0%). About 70% of drivers earn less than ¥400,000 per month. While the profession is gaining attention as one capable of high earnings, in reality, most drivers earn under ¥400,000 monthly, with disparities evident between urban and rural areas.

"Schedule Flexibility" Is a Universal Appeal, While Younger Drivers Prioritize "Income" and Older Drivers Value "Workplace Relationships"

When asked about the benefits of being a taxi driver by age group, a common appeal was widely supported across all ages, but clear differences emerged in secondary and subsequent priorities.

Top Benefits

■ Ages 20–30

High schedule flexibility: 26.55%

Potential for high income based on personal effort: 15.82%

Low workplace relationship stress / Easy re-employment or job change / Flexibility to accommodate childcare or caregiving: 14.69% (tied)

■ Ages 40–50

High schedule flexibility: 27.87%

Low workplace relationship stress: 24.59%

Flexibility to accommodate childcare or caregiving: 14.75%

■ Ages 60 and above

High schedule flexibility: 30.21%

Potential for high income based on personal effort: 21.88%

Low workplace relationship stress: 19.79%

"High schedule flexibility" ranked highest across all age groups, indicating broad appreciation for an environment allowing autonomous and flexible work. Particularly among drivers in their 20s–30s, "potential for high income" also ranked highly, showing strong alignment between performance-based income systems and younger workers' values.

Top Drawbacks

■ Ages 20–30

Unstable sales and unpredictable income: 23.04%

High physical strain from night or alternate-day shifts / Mental stress from customer interactions: 18.32% (tied)

■ Ages 40–50

Unstable sales and unpredictable income: 22.37%

Long working hours and disrupted lifestyle rhythms: 19.74%

High physical strain from night or alternate-day shifts: 18.42%

■ Ages 60 and above

Constant tension regarding accidents or incidents: 23.14%

Unstable sales and unpredictable income: 19.83%

Mental stress from customer interactions: 18.18%

Income instability and physical strain were common challenges across all age groups. For those aged 60 and above, constant tension about accidents or incidents ranked highest. The serious side of performance-based systems—highlighted as a benefit—also directly emerges as a drawback.

These results indicate that the profession of taxi driving is receiving high evaluations, particularly from younger drivers in their 20s–30s. The flexibility in scheduling and performance-linked income systems align well with younger drivers' values, and the "mental ease" of not being bound by workplace relationships also appears to be a key factor in its appeal.

According to our taxi sector representative, single mothers balancing childcare with work, and aspiring creators attending vocational schools while working on their projects,