For 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.

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!

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