90% of Parents Want Children to 'Learn a Trade' in the AI Era; Prioritizing 'Fulfillment' Over 'Stability'

Kanto Industrial Automotive College conducted a survey on 124 parents of junior and senior high school students regarding their views on careers. Amid growing anxiety about the future of work due to AI and automation, 87.9% of parents responded that they would recommend their children to 'learn a trade.' Furthermore, 'fulfillment and whether it is a job they like' was the top priority in career selection at 44.4%, surpassing 'employment stability.' Regarding automotive mechanics, while 65.3% perceived the job as 'physically demanding,' 58.9% noted that it 'allows one to acquire skills and qualifications,' and 44.4% considered it 'a necessary job for society.' If their child wished to become an automotive mechanic, 71.8% said they would 'support' or 'somewhat support' them, indicating a high level of understanding and expectation for technical professions.