📊 For five consecutive years, "YouTuber" was the top dream job for Japanese middle school boys. In 2025, "civil servant" finally claimed that throne for the first time ever. With YouTuber popularity plummeting by 9 points, we're witnessing a generational shift toward stability amid economic uncertainty in Japan. Here's what's driving this historic change.
Survey Overview: Sony Life Polls 1,000 Japanese Teens
Sony Life Insurance released the results of their 6th annual "Survey on How Junior and Senior High School Students Envision Their Future" in 2025. The survey, conducted from June 6-16, gathered responses from 1,000 students nationwide (200 middle schoolers and 800 high schoolers).
Since launching in 2017, this survey has become a valuable tracker of shifting values and aspirations among Japanese youth.
Middle School Boys: Civil Servant Takes #1 for the First Time
The most striking change in the 2025 survey is in the "Dream Job" rankings for middle school boys.
Middle School Boys' Dream Jobs (2025)
| Rank | Occupation | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Civil Servant | 16.0% |
| 2 | Professional Athlete | 15.0% |
| 3 | YouTuber/Video Creator | 14.0% |
| 4 | Company Employee | 11.0% |
| 5 | IT Engineer/Programmer | 10.0% |
In 2024, "YouTuber/Video Creator" dominated with 23.0%. Just one year later, it crashed to 14.0%—a dramatic 9-point drop. "Civil servant" rose to 16.0%, claiming the top spot for the first time since the survey began.
This isn't a temporary fluctuation but rather the culmination of a gradual shift toward stability-seeking that has been building since 2017.
High Schoolers: Civil Servant is #1 for Both Genders
Among high schoolers, who are more focused on realistic career paths, the trend is even more pronounced.
High School Students' Dream Jobs (2025)
| Gender | #1 | #2 | #3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boys | Civil Servant (13.3%) | IT Engineer (11.8%) | Company Employee (10.0%) |
| Girls | Civil Servant (12.3%) | Teacher (11.8%) | Nurse (9.5%) |
With "civil servant" topping both lists, the data clearly shows that stability orientation strengthens with age.
Nearly 80% of Japanese Teens Anxious About Japan's Future
Behind this shift lies growing anxiety about the future among Japanese youth.
According to the survey, the percentage feeling "anxious about Japan in 10 years" was:
- Middle schoolers: 73% (up from 2024)
- High schoolers: 77% (up more than 5 points from 2024)
Additionally, 72% expressed anxiety about "the world in 10 years."
Sony Life attributes this to "inflation that has become strongly felt in recent years, and growing uncertainty about the global economic outlook due to U.S. tariff policies creating headwinds for the Japanese economy."
Dreams Are Changing Too: Separating Stability from Hobbies
The survey also revealed interesting trends in students' "future dreams."
Top Future Dreams
| Group | #1 Dream |
|---|---|
| Middle School Boys | Making a living doing what I love (52.0%) |
| Middle School Girls | Living a life with fulfilling hobbies (60.0%) |
| High Schoolers (both) | Living a stable daily life |
What's notable is that while middle schoolers still dream of "doing what they love," their actual job choices lean toward stable options like civil servant or company employee.
This suggests a new value system where "work is for stability, and hobbies are for enjoyment." Indeed, when asked what gives them a sense of purpose, "gaming," "oshi-katsu" (supporting favorite celebrities/characters), and "music" ranked higher than "spending time with friends."
Why Did YouTuber Popularity Plummet?
Several factors likely contributed to the dramatic decline in YouTuber aspirations:
1. Heightened Awareness of Economic Stability
As inflation rises and economic uncertainty grows, more young people are realistically assessing the risks of "making a living doing what you love." The low probability of YouTuber success has become widely recognized.
2. Privacy and Risk Concerns
The risks of showing one's face online—including potential "flaming" (online harassment) and privacy issues—are now well understood. Many young people feel that "I'd like to be one, but I don't think I could actually do it."
3. The Shift to VTubers
Other surveys show that "VTuber" now ranks higher than "YouTuber" among elementary and middle schoolers' dream jobs. The appeal of creating content without revealing one's identity appears to be drawing interest away from traditional YouTubing.
4. Market Saturation
With low barriers to entry, the YouTuber market has become intensely competitive. The perception has shifted from "easy money" to "only a select few succeed."
Role Model of Choice: Shohei Ohtani
When asked "What celebrity do you want to be like as an adult?", baseball star Shohei Ohtani ranked #1 for both boys and girls. Admiration for athletes succeeding on the world stage remains strong, which aligns with "professional athlete" ranking #2 among middle school boys.
Conclusion: Japanese Youth Balance Dreams with Reality
These survey results don't indicate that Japanese teens have stopped dreaming. Rather, they're trying to balance dreams with reality.
Enjoying passions as hobbies while seeking stability in careers—this value system may be a survival strategy for young people living in an era of high uncertainty. Meanwhile, the rising popularity of civil service careers could lead to increased competition in government employment exams going forward.
What are the most popular dream jobs among young people in your country? Have you noticed any changes in YouTuber or influencer popularity? Is the trend more toward stability or taking risks? We'd love to hear about the situation in your country!
References
- Sony Life "Survey on How Junior and Senior High School Students Envision Their Future 2025" https://www.sonylife.co.jp/company/news/2025/nr_250731.html
- Nifty Kids "Dream Jobs Survey" (2025) https://kids.nifty.com/
- Dai-ichi Life "What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up?" Survey (2025) https://www.dai-ichi-life.co.jp/
Reactions in Japan
Surprised that civil servant took #1, but considering the economic environment today's kids face, it makes sense. Parents also seek stability, and their influence is significant.
The era when YouTuber was #1 is over. Competition became too fierce, and kids are realizing that only a handful can succeed.
It's impressive that middle schoolers are thinking realistically about their future, but also a bit sad. They should be allowed to dream more.
Talking with students, I feel stability orientation is getting stronger each year. But this isn't about giving up dreams—they're separating hobbies from work.
Even if civil servant is popular, the actual work is mundane and the salary isn't particularly high. Some might regret it when they see the gap between image and reality.
Seeking stability isn't bad, but I hope they keep the spirit of challenge. If you fail while young, you can always start over.
It's thought-provoking that inflation and global economic instability are affecting children's career perspectives. Adults need to show them a brighter future.
YouTuber popularity dropped because monetization thresholds rose and flame risks became known. Honestly, starting now is quite tough.
My kid used to say they wanted to be a YouTuber, but recently mentioned company employee might be good too. Stability orientation seems to be spreading among their friends.
Happy to see IT Engineer at #5. Maybe programming education is paying off. It's stable and you can earn well depending on skills—a good choice.
Heard VTubers are becoming more popular than YouTubers. No need to show your face and you can protect your privacy. Times have changed.
Interesting that 'making a living doing what you love' and 'stable career choices' coexist. A new value system separating hobbies and work may be emerging.
Honestly, as a parent, civil servant is more reassuring than YouTuber. But I don't want to deny my child's dreams—I want to support them whatever they choose.
Not saying stability orientation is bad, but if fewer people take risks and challenges, it could affect Japan's economic growth. Balance is important.
Happy civil servant aspirations are increasing, but actual competition rates are declining. Hope they learn about the gap between hopes and reality before pursuing it.
We're seeing similar trends in the US. Fewer kids want to be TikTokers or influencers, and more are choosing stable tech jobs. Economic anxiety is universal.
In the UK, YouTuber and footballer are still popular. Civil servant jobs are stable but don't seem very attractive among young people here.
In Germany, stable professions have traditionally been popular. Engineering and healthcare jobs are always at the top. The YouTuber boom was short-lived here.
In France, civil servant has always been popular. Similar to Japan! But recently, more young people are becoming interested in startups.
Same in Korea! Many kids want to be K-pop idols or YouTubers, but parents want stable jobs. The pressure of competitive society makes stability orientation strong.
In Spain, youth unemployment is high, so I totally understand seeking stable jobs. Civil service exams here are extremely competitive.
In Australia, sports player is still #1. But interest in IT jobs is growing. We still have a stronger culture of chasing dreams over stability.
In China, civil servant has always been very popular. It's called 'iron rice bowl' - a stable job. Competition rates have been rising even more recently.
In India, doctor and engineer are traditionally popular. YouTuber is gaining popularity, but the parent generation strongly prefers stable professions.
In Brazil, football player is the eternal dream (lol). But realistically, many young people aim for engineering or law-related jobs.
In Poland, young people are very interested in IT. Civil servant is popular too, but many seek opportunities to work abroad in the EU.
In Ireland, working at tech companies is popular among youth. We have many European HQs of major IT companies. Stability orientation isn't that strong here.
In Singapore, finance and tech are popular. Civil servant is also popular due to good benefits. Being a small nation, stability orientation is strong.
In the Netherlands, many young people have entrepreneurial spirit. More seem interested in starting their own business than in stability.
In UAE, government jobs are very popular due to excellent benefits and stability. Though more young people are aspiring to become influencers too.