Almost 30% of university graduates in Japan had left their initial employment within the first three years, reports Nippon.com, citing research from The Japanese Trade Union Confederation. The study found that the top reason (cited by 33.9% of graduates) for choosing their first company after graduating was because it offered “indefinite employment (a regular position).” This was followed by 20.7% being “interested in the type of work” and 20.1% feeling it was “rewarding work.” Work-life balance was also shown to be a factor, with the ratio of responses mentioning benefit packages, and annual leave all more than 10%.

The survey also showed that 66.8% of respondents (including those currently on childcare or other leave) were still working at the first company they joined. Looking at those who no longer worked at their first company, 7.7% had left within the first six months, 6.2% after six months to one year, 10.4% after one to two years, and 5.2% after two to three years. At 40.1%, the most common reason new graduates gave for leaving was that the “job was not a good match,” followed by 31.0% stating it was due to “working hours and leave conditions,” and 27.4% because of “salary conditions.”