Survey of 137 Students: Confusion and the Gap in Action Regarding News of Decreasing New Graduate Recruitment

Strobolights Inc. (Machida, Tokyo; CEO Keiichiro Hanada) conducted a survey in April 2026 among 137 current university students (2nd and 3rd years) to assess their awareness of recent news regarding the decrease in new graduate recruitment. The survey focused on 129 valid respondents who were aware of the news, investigating how it has influenced their awareness, actions, and values. The findings reveal a sense of impatience and confusion among students.

### Key Finding 1: High Sense of Crisis and a Need for Early Action Among students aware of the news, the average score for the impact on their job hunting was 4.30 out of 5. Over half (54.7%) answered that it would 'greatly affect' them. Additionally, 88.3% stated that they 'need to accelerate preparation actions,' reflecting a strong sense of urgency.

### Key Finding 2: A Mismatch in Preparation Focus However, the areas students intend to focus on—such as 'industry research' (61.3%), 'expanding target industries/roles' (49.6%), and 'obtaining certifications' (33.6%)—are largely limited to traditional job-hunting preparations. Students are simply doing the same things earlier.

The structural factor behind companies reducing recruitment is the shift in the 'ideal candidate profile' due to AI. What students actually need are 'human skills'—the ability to grasp tasks instantly, collaborate and debate with strangers in a team, and deliver outputs within a timeframe. Very few students seem focused on this essential growth.

### Core Issue: A Lack of Experience, Not Knowledge The most valuable support universities can provide is neither more information nor 'correct answers.' It is the experience itself: thinking independently, acting with others, and being evaluated. To bridge the gap, there is an increasing need for on-campus initiatives that foster these human skills.

### Proof of Effectiveness: 1-Day Workshop Transforming Career Resilience In March 2026, Strobolights conducted a workshop for 30 freshmen and sophomores at a private university in Tokyo. Resilience scores—the ability to update oneself in uncertain times—rose from an average of 3.79 to 3.98, with 83% of participants showing improvement. The largest gain (+0.77pt) was in the item 'Able to find what I want to do in the future.'

### Free Business Workshops for Universities To overcome barriers such as instructor procurement and budgets, Strobolights is now providing these business workshops to universities free of charge.