Young Japanese workers prefer office over telework
TOKYO, JAPAN — A recent survey of 396 university students graduating and entering the workforce in spring 2024 in Japan found that 61.8% prefer going into the office over teleworking.
Telework is the simple term for “remote work” or “work-from-home” setup. This arrangement allows an employee to carry out work responsibilities from a remote location.
The survey, conducted by major Japanese job information company Gakujo Co. in November 2023, revealed that 24.7% would prefer coming to work, while 37.1% said they would prefer it over teleworking if they had to pick one.
In contrast, only 6.1% selected teleworking, while 15.9% said they would prefer it over working from home.
Over 80% of respondents said they would use a telework system if their company offered it, citing reasons like avoiding commutes and increased concentration. The most popular teleworking frequency was once or twice a week, chosen by 42.6%.
Despite the apparent preference for office work and while remote work has blurred boundaries, a recent survey by Japan’s largest labor union, Rengo, found that 70% of Japanese workers want the legal “right to disconnect” and refuse work contact after hours.
