Nearly half of Japanese workforce engages in ‘quiet quitting’: survey

Around 45% of full-time employees in Japan are “quiet quitting,” a practice where workers do only what their roles require, without extra effort, according to a recent survey of 3,000 workers by job-matching company Mynavi.

The poll found that 46.7% of respondents in their 20s identify as quiet quitters — the highest rate among age groups. Overall, 45.3% of full-time employees reported doing only the minimum required at work.

The trend marks a clear departure from Japan’s postwar salaryman model, which prized loyalty, long hours and self-sacrifice. Among younger workers, it signals changing values and a move toward prioritizing personal boundaries over traditional corporate loyalty.

Japan’s workplace culture discourages open criticism, making quiet quitting a subtle form of resistance. Rather than protest openly, employees pull back discretionary effort while still meeting expectations. Experts say this reflects growing dissatisfaction with rigid hierarchies and outdated norms.

Respondents cited protecting personal time and limited career prospects as key reasons for disengagement. Many younger workers say they no longer see value in going beyond their job scope without clear rewards.

“People no longer see the point in exhausting themselves for companies that don’t invest in their growth,” one participant told Mynavi.

A 2024 Gallup report found that only 6% of Japanese workers are actively engaged — the lowest rate worldwide. Analysts warn that continued disengagement could weaken productivity, innovation and talent retention if companies fail to adapt.

Experts recommend that employers respond by offering flexible schedules, clearer career paths and meaningful recognition. Without change, the gap between old work norms and new expectations may continue to grow, posing long-term risks to workforce stability.