What Japanese Children Want to Be: Career Choices by Age Group

A survey by the Gakken Educational Research Institute found that the top dream job among Japanese elementary school students is "online content creator." By middle and high school, however, "company employee" and "civil servant" topped the rankings — perhaps a telling shift from childhood aspiration to practical thinking.

The survey was conducted with support from the marketing research firm Net Asia. It included 1,200 preschoolers, 1,200 elementary school students, 600 junior high students, and 600 high school students, along with their guardians. This year, the questionnaire shifted from multiple-choice to open-ended questions, giving children more room to express their thoughts.

Elementary School Trends

Among elementary school students, nearly 10% of responses named "online content creator" as their dream job — up from second place in 2025, when "pastry chef" topped the list. The rise likely reflects the growing influence of platforms like YouTube. "Pastry chef" slipped to second this year, followed by more traditional choices: police officer, school teacher, and doctor.

*Based on a survey by Gakken Educational Research Institute.*

Middle and High School Priorities

Middle and high school students painted a different picture. Both groups favored stability, with "company employee," "civil servant," and "school teacher" claiming the top three spots in the same order for both age groups. Engineers and programmers rounded out the top five, reflecting the growing appeal of tech careers.

Natsuko Kawada, Director of the Gakken Educational Research Institute, commented: "Among elementary school students, the popularity of online content creators, such as YouTubers, continues. As children grow into junior high and high school, more realistic occupations, like company employees, tend to rise in the rankings."

She added: "A notable feature this year is that engineers and programmers have secured a stable position among high school students. The diversity of desired professions reflects just how much the range of careers available today has grown."

Among preschoolers, "pastry chef" and "police officer" shared the top spot, followed by "firefighter" in third. Rounding out the top five were anime characters and singers/idols.