Cabinet office in Japan conducts the survey, Public Opinion Survey Concerning People’s Lifestyles, every year nationwide since at least 2001. One of the questions in the survey is about the purpose of work. The questionnaire asks the following questions.

What is your purpose of working ? Please choose one of these options that is closest to your way of thinking. 1. To earn money 2. To fulfill the duty as a member of society 3. To demonstrate my talents and abilities 4. To find a reason to live 5. Other* 6. Don’t know *The option of No5 Other has been eliminated in the questionnaire since 2008.

I made a figure below based on the survey results just because the survey result was interesting to me. There are only 5 to 6 choices given for answers, so I cannot help but feel this questionnaire may be misleading. But, interestingly the survey result is showing a fundamental part of human nature, which is that everybody has to survive.









Approximately 50% of Japanese people work to earn money. More precisely put, earning money is the closest reason for 50% of Japanese people to work among the choices given in the survey. I understand that money is very important to live, but I expected that the number would be lower than 50%. Personally I would choose the option No4, to find a reason to live, if I was given this questionnaire.

How about you ? If you don’t mind, please let me know your opinion in the comment section. Thank you.

Also, I examined why people quit their jobs as well using some statistics. If you are interested, please read the article below.





