Top Use of First Paycheck by Japanese New Employees: Gifts for Parents and Family
"Restaurant Meal" Most Popular Gift Choice
Japanese new employees tend to prioritize spending their first-ever paycheck on gifts for their parents or family.
It has been found that Japanese new employees tend to prioritize spending their first-ever paycheck on gifts for their parents or family.
According to ITmedia, a Japanese media outlet, on June 29, a survey conducted by the recruitment support company JAC revealed that the most common use for the first paycheck (multiple responses allowed) was "gifts for parents or family" at 71.8%.
This was followed by "hobbies" (46.4%), "savings" (40.3%), "gifts for oneself" (34.0%), and "food or social expenses" (23.7%). Responses categorized as "other" (1.2%) included car loan payments, rent, and repayment of borrowed money.
When asked what kind of gift they would like to give their parents or family with their first paycheck, the most common answer was "a meal at a restaurant" (29.9%). This was followed by "food or alcohol" (16.6%), "a trip with family" (9.7%), "miscellaneous goods (such as tableware or wallets)" (8.0%), and "a trip for parents only" (6.6%). In the "other" category (1.5%), answers included health checkups, massage devices, and personally visiting their parents.
Japanese new employees tend to prioritize spending their first-ever paycheck on gifts for their parents or family. Photo by Getty Images
The media outlet reported that these results reflect the mindset of new employees who value interaction with their families through meals or travel.
According to a survey by Japanese recruitment platform Benesse i-Carrier, the people whom university sophomores and juniors most frequently consult about job hunting or career issues are "parents (father or mother)" at 22.3%. Parents also ranked highest as "people they have ever consulted about their future career" at 60.0%.
JAC executive Hiromitsu Kondo stated, "From the perspective of companies conducting recruitment, it will become increasingly important to provide information and communication that can instill trust and reassurance not only in students and new employees but also in their parents or guardians."
He added, "Specifically, effective methods include enclosing a letter addressed to guardians with the job offer notice, or inviting guardians to the job offer ceremony or entrance ceremony to help them understand the company through workplace tours or corporate briefings."
This survey was conducted in the form of a questionnaire from March 27 to April 7, targeting 662 participants in new employee training programs provided by JAC.
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