i-plug surveyed 2028 graduates on desired annual salaries and trends in declining job offers. While the ¥3 million range remained the most common, demand for salaries in the ¥4 million range increased, and benefits and other factors beyond salary emerged as key determinants in preventing withdrawals.
Among 2028 graduates, the most common desired annual salary was ¥3.0 million–¥3.99 million, at 39.4%, followed by ¥4.0 million–¥4.99 million at 34.2%. The share seeking ¥5 million or more is trending downward. Compared with previous surveys, the share seeking ¥3.0 million–¥3.99 million has declined, while the share seeking salaries in the ¥4 million range has increased.
Even when the salary offered at the time of receiving an offer was below their desired amount, around 90% of students said they would not withdraw depending on other conditions. Only a small proportion said they would withdraw, indicating that students continue to place importance on making an overall assessment.
Enhanced employee benefits were the most common condition for preventing withdrawal, cited by 71.8%. This was followed by job responsibilities at 57.8% and a preferred location at 50.5%, indicating that specific employment conditions are valued more highly than qualitative factors.
As for the acceptable difference from the desired amount, 87.9% would accept a difference of up to ¥1 million, including 48.1% who would accept up to ¥500,000 and 39.8% who would accept ¥510,000–¥1 million. Although strict standards are becoming less stringent, cases involving a difference of more than ¥1 million remain limited.