"Do We Really Have to Work Hard?"... Even Japan, the Land of Diligence, Has Changed

Overall, 53% Say "Japanese Diligence Will Not Continue"
Quiet Quitting Spreads in UK... Job Satisfaction at Its Lowest in 35 Years

Japan's long-standing emphasis on long service and diligence is giving way to a changing attitude toward work. A survey found that 56% of young people aged 18 to 39 do not consider working hard a virtue.

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56% of Young People in Japan Say Working Hard Is Not a Virtue

According to the results of a survey on working styles conducted by the Yomiuri Shimbun from August 24 to September 30 among 2,000 voters nationwide, 51% of respondents said they consider working hard a virtue. Another 47% said they do not.

By age group, 58% of those aged 60 and older gave a positive response, accounting for a majority. The figure was 47% among those aged 40 to 59 and 43% among those aged 18 to 39, falling as the age group got younger.

The share who did not consider working hard a virtue was highest among those aged 18 to 39, at 56%. It was 51% among those aged 40 to 59 and 40% among those aged 60 and older.

Asked whether the diligence often cited as a characteristic of Japanese people would continue in the future, 45% said it would, fewer than the 53% who said it would not. By age group, the share who expected diligence to endure was 43% among those aged 18 to 39, 42% among those aged 40 to 59, and 48% among those aged 60 and older, remaining below half in every group.

Regarding the use of artificial intelligence (AI), only 26% of respondents said they use AI for work, while 72% said they do not. Asked about the impact of AI's spread on work, 57% said they had greater expectations that it would improve work efficiency, while 38% said they were more concerned about job losses.

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Quiet Quitting Spreads Among UK Workers... Job Satisfaction at Its Lowest in 35 Years

A similar trend has emerged in the United Kingdom. On November 3, the Financial Times (FT) reported that "quiet quitting" - doing only the minimum required at work - is gaining ground among UK workers.

According to a survey by the UK think tank the Resolution Foundation, the share of workers willing to work harder than required to help their company succeed fell from 69% in 2015 to 55% last year. The decline was greatest among managers and professionals.

Job satisfaction has also fallen to a record low. One in four workers said they were not satisfied with their main job. This was the worst figure in the survey's 35-year history, up from one in five in 2015, when the question was last asked.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.