2023 Occupational Calling Survey
"Work Life, Self-Realization < Leisure"
Younger Age Groups and Lower Ranks Tend to Prioritize 'Personal Leisure' More Increasingly
Fewer people are finding meaning in 'work' in their professional lives. Rather than a sense of vocational calling, individuals are placing greater importance on their personal lives and leisure. Furthermore, the perception that asking about a 'sense of calling' related to one's job is outdated is becoming increasingly clear.
According to the '2023 Survey on Vocational Calling' released on the 13th by Embrain Trend Monitor, a market research firm, 51.4% of respondents positively answered the question, "Is the company just a place to earn money?" This marks a slight increase following ▲2021 (45.3%) and ▲2022 (48.4%).
The percentage of respondents who positively answered "prioritizing work above all else" has also been decreasing annually: ▲2021 (24.5%), ▲2022 (21.7%), and ▲2023 (20.8%).
Only 39.5% of all respondents said they could achieve self-realization through their work life, indicating that workplaces are increasingly seen not as places to find meaning in work but as means to earn money.
MZ Generation & Lower Ranks: "People who only work without leisure are pitiful"
In contrast, the tendency to value personal 'leisure time' has become more pronounced. The percentage of respondents who said they would give up their current job if they could enjoy leisure time increased to ▲2021 (51.1%), ▲2022 (53.8%), and ▲2023 (57.0%).
They also considered people who work hard without leisure time to be pitiful (62.5%). This phenomenon was especially noticeable among younger age groups. Younger employees and those in lower positions tended to place little meaning on work beyond their salary and prioritized leisure above all else.
Fewer Employees Feeling a Sense of Vocational Calling
As the perception that companies are places to earn money strengthens, the number of employees who feel a sense of responsibility toward their work is decreasing. Looking at responses over the years regarding feeling a sense of calling in their current job: ▲2021 (57.7%), ▲2022 (55.6%), and ▲2023 (53.1%). Nowadays, 'salary level' has become a more important criterion than 'sense of calling' in choosing a job.
Accordingly, many respondents felt they could not even tell their juniors that a sense of vocational calling is necessary (57.8%), and there was a strong perception that asking about a sense of calling itself is outdated (62.5%).
When asked if even experts in a field lack a sense of calling nowadays, 56.4% answered "yes." However, senior managers often feel a sense of calling and pride in their jobs, and they tend to perceive the recent decline in vocational calling less strongly, which may lead to a lack of mutual understanding between ranks.
"If you pay me a lot, I'll quit my current job"
Along with the declining importance of vocational calling, the number of people intending to continue their current job in the future is expected to decrease further. Only 31.7% of all employees said they would do their current job for life, and just 21.8% said they would continue their current job even if offered significant material rewards elsewhere. This shows a very low willingness to continue in their current profession.
Additionally, the percentage of respondents who said they would consider quitting their current job if offered more money elsewhere was ▲2020 (55.6%), ▲2021 (60.2%), and ▲2023 (60.7%).
The attitude of being willing to slightly compromise or adjust the principles and professionalism of their work also increased: ▲2020 (53.3%), ▲2021 (54.8%), and ▲2023 (57.2%).
This suggests that employees who highly value salary standards are prepared to choose other jobs if better conditions and opportunities are offered.
Embrain stated, "The economic benefits gained through a job are an essential means of livelihood and a crucial factor determining quality of life. Although the discourse that demands for vocational calling are outdated in today's era is emerging, social reflection on the sense of calling as a responsibility and as a profession dealing with people is more necessary than ever."
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