JILPT Research Eye

A series of labor-related information (evidence) that contributes to the formation of labor policies.

Results of the Eighth “Survey on Working Life” from JILPT Fixed-Point Survey

(Published originally in Japanese on July 25, 2025 and later revised for Japan Labor Issues Vol.10, no.56 Winter 2026.)

GUNJI Masato

Since 1999, the Japan Institute for Labour Policy and Training (JILPT) has conducted a fixed-point attitude survey titled “the Survey on Working Life” in order to clarify various aspects of workers’ awareness. This paper introduces the results of the most recent 2021 survey, focusing on awareness related to so-called “Japanese-style employment practices,” as well as workers’ perspectives on career development and the ideal form of society Japan should aim for. It examines workers’ awareness from perspectives such as lifetime employment, seniority-based wages, and a sense of unity with the organization (Sections II–V); career development within a single company versus across multiple companies (Sections VI); and preferences for an egalitarian society versus a competitive society (Section VII).

This was the eighth such survey, following those conducted in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2007, 2011, and 2015, enabling us to trace changes in workers’ awareness over time. The survey was conducted using a placement method through home visits by surveyors. The sample consisted of 4,000 men and women aged 20 and over, drawn through stratified two-stage random sampling from the Basic Resident Register. Responses were obtained from 2,388 individuals (valid response rate: 59.7%).

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