The Gap Between What Job Seekers Want and What Managers Think They Offer — Well-Working Gap Revealed

ECOTONE Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Ken Dōjō) conducted a nationwide survey of 1,339 employed individuals (including 309 job seekers and 515 managers), comparing what job seekers 'truly want in a workplace' with what managers believe their companies 'have already achieved,' across 15 identical items. The differences in perception were visualized as the 'Well-Working Gap.' The largest gap was in 'the ability to maintain a work-life rhythm and recover (recoverability),' at 36.9 points.

TOPIC 1: What job seekers want most is a workplace where people support each other

For job seekers, the top priority in 'what matters when working' was 'being able to help each other when in trouble' (81.2%), followed by 'a fun working atmosphere' (76.4%) and 'the ability to maintain a work-life rhythm and recover (recoverability)' (76.2%). Factors related to mutual support, relationships with colleagues, and recovery ranked highest. 'Efforts being fairly rewarded through income' (65.6%) ranked 10th.

TOPIC 2: The most desired 'daily experiences' are the least delivered

Subtracting managers' 'achieved rate' from job seekers' 'desired rate,' the largest gap was 'the ability to maintain a work-life rhythm and recover,' at 36.9 points. This was followed by 'efforts being rewarded through income' (31.0 points), 'a fun working atmosphere' (28.4 points), and both 'being able to help each other' and 'being heard about what I want to do' (28.2 points each). In contrast, gaps for 'flexible work styles' (3.5) and 'social contribution' (4.1) were minimal. While companies are delivering on what they can 'talk about,' they are failing to deliver on the most desired 'daily experiences'—daily work environments and care in human relationships. This is the essence of the Well-Working Gap.

TOPIC 3: Behavioral traits of people with high well-being at work — 'diverse connections' and 'challenges'

What sets people who work with well-being apart? Among job seekers, those who reported high well-being at work (top 2 on the Well-Working scale) showed the following behaviors: 1st was 'having many communities and safe spaces' (58.3%), followed by 'enjoying creating things from scratch' (53.1%), 'frequent movement and new encounters' (50.3%), 'enjoying new experiences' (48.2%), and 'not fearing challenges' (47.0%). The data suggests that people who connect with diverse individuals beyond organizational roles and who embrace new challenges tend to work with higher well-being. Well-being is not just about 'individual personality'—it can also be nurtured by a company environment that supports such behaviors.

This trend can be directly translated into corporate initiatives.

※ Initiatives are ECOTONE's suggestions based on survey results and do not guarantee effectiveness.

Comment from Ken Dōjō, CEO and Editor-in-Chief of Wellulu

In this survey, we aligned workers' true feelings with managers' self-assessments using the same criteria. What emerged is that what job seekers value most is not lofty ideals or freedom, but 'the ability to recover with peace of mind' and 'being able to help each other when in trouble'—the 'daily experiences' of workplace life. And it is precisely in these most desired areas that the Well-Working Gap exists.

Another important discovery is that behind the gap, both workers and managers are actually looking in the 'same direction.' People who connect with diverse others, take on challenges, and value themselves tend to work with well-being—and this aligns with company growth. Well-being management should start not by adding systems, but by shaping daily environments. Before empowering people, we must create spaces where people can recover. I believe this is the starting point for future management.

※ All figures represent the combined percentage of 'strongly agree' and 'somewhat agree' (Top 2). Well-Working Gap (pt) = Job seekers' (n=309) desired rate − Managers' (n=515) achieved rate.

【About Wellulu】 A well-being-focused media platform operated by ECOTONE. Under the slogan 'Well-being, before you know it,' it attracts 700,000 monthly visitors. URL: https://wellulu.com/

【Inquiries】 Public Relations, ECOTONE Inc. Email: [email protected] Location: 4F ARCH, Toranomon Hills Business Tower, 1-17-1 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo

※ The content of this press release is current as of the date of publication.

ECOTONE Inc.

A startup launched by Hakuhodo, aiming to create the well-being industry. Born in 2024 as a new venture of Hakuhodo, it was spun off as an equity-method affiliate of Hakuhodo, in collaboration with WiL, a global VC from Japan and the U.S. Starting with the media platform 'Wellulu,' it operates a co-creation platform connecting consumers, companies, and communities. It elevates well-being to a top management agenda, accelerating social and organizational transformation.