On 23 October 2026 the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) compiled and published the turnover status of new graduates who finished school in March 2023. The share who left their job within three years of joining was 31.2% for university graduates and 36.9% for high school graduates.
This page summarises the MHLW press release and its attachment explaining the data source and how the turnover rate is calculated.
Overview
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Date published | 23 October 2026 |
| Published by | Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (Office for Youth and Career Development Support, Human Resources Development) |
| Covered | New graduates who finished school in March 2023 and took up employment |
| Period in which departures were counted | 1 March 2023 to 31 March 2026 |
| Three-year rate, university graduates | 31.2% (down 2.6 points) |
| Three-year rate, high school graduates | 36.9% (down 1.0 point) |
Three-year turnover rate by education level
| Education level | Three-year rate | Change from previous year |
|---|---|---|
| Junior high school | 54.5% | Up 0.4 points |
| High school | 36.9% | Down 1.0 point |
| Junior college and similar | 43.1% | Down 1.4 points |
| University | 31.2% | Down 2.6 points |
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| Establishment size | High school graduates | University graduates |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer than 5 employees | 61.3% (down 1.9 points) | 58.2% (up 0.7 points) |
| 5 to 29 | 53.3% (down 1.3 points) | 50.6% (down 1.4 points) |
| 30 to 99 | 45.5% (up 0.3 points) | 39.7% (down 2.2 points) |
| 100 to 499 | 36.4% (down 0.3 points) | 31.7% (down 2.2 points) |
| 500 to 999 | 29.4% (down 0.5 points) | 29.0% (down 2.5 points) |
| 1,000 or more | 24.4% (down 1.9 points) | 24.2% (down 2.8 points) |
Figures in brackets show the change from the previous year.
By industry: the five industries with the highest rates
The MHLW lists the five industries (excluding "other") with the highest three-year turnover rates.
| Rank | High school graduates | University graduates |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Accommodation and food services 61.6% (down 3.1 points) | Accommodation and food services 49.9% (down 5.5 points) |
| 2 | Living-related and personal services and amusement 61.1% (down 0.4 points) | Living-related and personal services and amusement 49.8% (down 4.9 points) |
| 3 | Medical, health care and welfare 49.4% (up 0.2 points) | Education and learning support 42.3% (down 1.9 points) |
| 4 | Education and learning support 49.3% (down 4.3 points) | Medical, health care and welfare 39.1% (down 1.7 points) |
| 5 | Retail trade 48.5% (up 0.2 points) | Retail trade 38.1% (down 2.3 points) |
Figures in brackets show the change from the previous year. More detailed figures by establishment size and industry are on the MHLW page "Turnover of new graduates".
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How the rate is calculated
According to the attachment explaining the data source and calculation:
- The number of people presumed to be new graduates is estimated for each education level from the date of birth, date of enrolment and reason for enrolment in employment insurance enrolment notices filed by employers with Hello Work. The number who left and the turnover rate are then calculated from their dates of separation
- March 2023 university graduates are taken to be those born on or before 1 April 2001 who were enrolled in employment insurance as new graduates between 1 March and 30 June 2023
- Those who left are the people in that group who separated between 1 March 2023 and 31 March 2026. Anyone who left the establishment that filed the new-graduate enrolment notice is counted as having left, regardless of the reason or their employment status afterwards
MHLW measures
According to the press release, the MHLW will continue to support new graduates in settling into their workplaces and to provide tailored job-search support to those who have left, through services such as Hello Work offices for new graduates.
Sources
- MHLW, "Turnover of new graduates (March 2023 graduates)" press release (23 October 2026, Japanese) https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/houdou/0000177553_00011.html
- MHLW, data source and calculation method (PDF, Japanese) https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/001757258.pdf
- MHLW, full set of materials (PDF, Japanese) https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/001757256.pdf
- MHLW, "Turnover of new graduates" (Japanese) https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/0000137940.html
This page is compiled from material published by government agencies. Please consult a lawyer where a decision is needed on a specific matter.
