Thinking About My Work. My Work Newsletter [3]Different by region!? Revealing the honest thoughts of "newly employed men" about work!
Have you ever noticed differences in work attitudes between your hometown and other prefectures?
In Part 1, " The Honest Survey of 'Working Women Just Starting Out'! ~ Where Are the Best Areas to Work? Edition~, " we introduced the "work environment ratings" from working women in their 20s – "working women just starting out" – in each of the five major metropolitan areas (Tokyo, Osaka, Aichi, Hokkaido, Fukuoka), along with the characteristics of women in each area. This time, as a special edition, we'd like to introduce the "honest opinions about work" from working men in their 20s in the same five major metropolitan areas – the "working men just starting out."
*Source: Dentsu Inc. Watashigoto Project "Working Women in Their Early 20s" Survey, conducted February 2015
Survey on employment and lifestyle attitudes among 20-29 year old "Working Women in Their Early Careers" (who are thought to feel the most change from working) (Survey subjects: Female university students who experienced job hunting, plus working men in their 20s for comparison, totaling 1,070 people)
This time, based on these two graphs, we'll examine the "work attitudes" of "working men" in each region and their views on "women working," while considering the connection to the characteristics of "working women" in each region and their "work environment evaluations" discussed last time!
■Tokyo: Prioritizing Specialized Field Development Amidst Broad Options
Tokyo's "young male workers" scored higher than other regions on "wanting to work utilizing specialized knowledge or skills" as their desired future career path. Given Tokyo's diverse industries and abundant choices, it's reasonable to infer they have a strong desire to build unique careers.
Additionally, compared to the other five areas, Tokyo scored higher in responses to the benefits of women working in the workplace, such as "addressing issues men alone might overlook" and "invigorating the workplace." While Tokyo was introduced as a city where "women starting their careers" find it easy to live, this seems related to the work attitudes of men as well.
■Osaka Men: Ambitious and Aiming for Both Mental and Financial Independence
Osaka's "young men starting their careers" (Note 1) scored highly on "enjoying work" as a reason for wanting to work. Their desire for advancement is evident, as their score for "wanting to work as an executive or business owner" in future careers was the highest among all areas.
Another characteristic is their high scores for "achieving financial independence" and "achieving mental independence" as benefits of women working in the workplace. Previously, we highlighted "wanting more disposable income" as a key motivation for Osaka's "working women starting out." Osaka may be an area that respects mutual independence, encompassing not just financial but also mental aspects.
(Note 1) "Because I enjoy working": Osaka Prefecture 36%, Fukuoka Prefecture 26%, Tokyo Metropolis 23%, Aichi Prefecture 17%, Hokkaido 13%
■Aichi: Prioritizing Human Connections Over the Career Ladder
Like Aichi's "young women starting work," Aichi's "young men starting work" also show relatively strong local orientation (Note 2). They value "feeling connected to society and people" as a reason to work (Note 3). They also appreciate that women working allows them to "gain experiences unavailable solely within the home," revealing a tendency to prioritize connections with people through work.
(Note 2) "Prefer local employment": Fukuoka Prefecture 70%, Aichi Prefecture 68%, Hokkaido 64%, Osaka Prefecture 46%, Tokyo Metropolis 44%
(Note 3) "Because they can feel connected to society and people": Aichi Prefecture 31.0%, Osaka Prefecture 20%, Tokyo Metropolis 19%, Hokkaido 17%, Fukuoka Prefecture 15%
■Work is fuel for growth. Fukuoka: Aiming for career advancement, giving everything their all
Fukuoka's "young men starting their careers" are characterized by a stronger work ethic than other regions, expressing desires to "work as managers" and "advance their careers within the same company." They also value women working because it allows them to "feel growth through work," reflecting a mindset where "work = fuel for growth."
Similar to Fukuoka's "working women starting their careers," who view "working as a given" and give their all, the Fukuoka area's characteristic may be this attitude of seeing work as part of life and approaching it proactively.
■Hokkaido: Pioneering Spirit with Strong Entrepreneurial Drive
While Hokkaido's "working women" were characterized by the mindset, "If there's no job I want, I'll just create it myself!", the "working men" also scored high on "wanting to start a business," revealing a similar pioneering spirit.
In the previous "Work Environment Evaluation," Hokkaido ranked relatively low among the five regions in self-assessments of factors like "commuting ease" and "industry diversity." Yet, this very environment may foster a rebellious spirit in both men and women.
We've now introduced the values and work attitudes of "young working men" in each region, while reflecting on the characteristics of "young working women."
While we've examined "young women starting their careers" and "young men starting their careers" in each region, you may have noticed a common "work ethic" shared by men and women across regions.
The unique "work ethos" of each region may arise from the close interplay between work environment factors—like the breadth of industries and ease of commuting, which seem to vary by area—and career awareness, which reflects their values toward work.
Next time, we'll continue exploring the perspectives of "working women" from various angles.
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Author
Yuko Kawai
Dentsu Inc.
Conducting research on a wide range of demographics, from elementary, junior high, high school, and university students to office workers and homemakers, and planning product development and communication strategies.