As of the end of June, the preliminary offer acceptance rate was 82.3%. Humanities students at 79.4%, science students at 88.3%, both showing sluggish growth. Over 40% of humanities students are still actively job hunting [2027 Graduate Survey]

Gakujo Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo) conducted an online survey on the latest "preliminary offer acquisition status" targeting university and graduate students scheduled to graduate in March 2027.

The preliminary offer acceptance rate as of the end of June for the 2027 graduate recruitment season exceeded 80% for the first time this season at 82.3%, but it has been below the same period last year for four consecutive months. In surveys conducted at the same time over the previous three years, the rate exceeded 84%, making this the second-lowest figure after the 78.8% for the 2023 graduate recruitment season. Early selection processes starting from internships became established this season, leading to record-high figures until the end of February, but growth slowed down after spring. It appears to have hit the brakes further recently. In addition to the advancement of preliminary offer issuance due to early selection, companies may be carefully assessing their recruitment plans and target candidates due to economic uncertainty and considerations regarding the recruitment of young career professionals. By field, humanities students were at 79.4%, falling below 80% for the first time in three years at this point in time. Science students were at 88.3%, also failing to reach 90% for the first time in four years, indicating sluggish growth in both fields. The job hunting activity rate decreased to 36.5%, but it was 5.3 percentage points higher than the same period last year and the second-highest rate after the 42.9% for the 2024 graduate recruitment season. Although both humanities and science students saw a decrease of about 10 percentage points from the previous month, humanities students were at 43.9%, with over 40% still actively job hunting. Science students were at 21.3%, below the previous year's figure.

【TOPICS】

(1) Preliminary offer acceptance rate as of the end of June was 82.3%, below last year for four consecutive months

(2) Humanities students' preliminary offer acceptance rate below 80% for the first time in three years; science students' rate below 90% for the first time in four years

(3) Over 40% of humanities students are still actively job hunting; science students at 21.3%, below last year's figure

https://service.gakujo.ne.jp/jinji-library/report/27naiteiritsu0702/

(1) Preliminary offer acceptance rate as of the end of June was 82.3%. Humanities at 79.4%, science at 88.3%, both showing sluggish growth.

The preliminary offer acceptance rate for 2027 graduates in July (as of the end of June) was 82.3%, an increase of +4.6 percentage points from the previous month. Although it exceeded 80% after the recruitment selection start date of June 1st according to job hunting rules, it has been below the same period last year for four consecutive months. For the same period, the rate had remained above 84% for three years since the 2024 graduate recruitment survey, but this time it is the second-lowest figure after the 78.8% for the 2023 graduate recruitment season. Early selection processes starting from internships became established this season, leading to record-high figures until the end of February, but growth slowed down after spring, and it appears to have hit the brakes further recently. In addition to the advancement of preliminary offer issuance due to the establishment of early selection, companies may be carefully assessing their recruitment plans and target candidates due to economic uncertainty and considerations regarding the recruitment of young career professionals.

(2) Humanities students' preliminary offer acceptance rate below 80% for the first time in three years; science students' rate below 90% for the first time in four years.

Looking at the breakdown by field, humanities students were at 79.4%, an increase of +4.1 percentage points from the previous month, falling below 80% for the first time in three years at this point in time. Science students were at 88.3%, an increase of +5.7 percentage points from the previous month, also failing to reach 90% for the first time in four years, indicating sluggish growth in both fields.

(3) Over 40% of humanities students are still actively job hunting; science students at 21.3%, below last year's figure.

The percentage of students "job hunting" decreased by -9.4 percentage points from the previous month to 36.5%, but this is 5.3 percentage points higher than the same period last year. In recent years, this is the second-highest rate after the 42.9% for the 2024 graduate recruitment season, suggesting that many students continue their job search even after receiving preliminary offers. In particular, the job hunting activity rate for humanities students is 43.9%, exceeding 40%, indicating a strong tendency to continue comparing options even after receiving preliminary offers. In contrast, the rate for science students was 21.3%, below the previous year's figure. For science students, not only the preliminary offer acceptance rate but also the job hunting activity rate are below the previous year, suggesting that many students are narrowing down their choices early from the preliminary offers they have received. The percentage of students who have "received preliminary offers and ended their job search" increased by nearly 10 percentage points from the previous month to 60.6%, exceeding 60%.

Survey Overview

- Survey Period: June 24, 2026 - June 30, 2026

- Survey Organization: Gakujo Co., Ltd.

- Target Audience: University and graduate students scheduled to graduate in March 2027

- Number of Valid Responses: 279

- Survey Method: Internet-based questionnaire

* Figures for each item are rounded to the first decimal place after rounding the second decimal place, so the sum of mutually exclusive answers may not be 100.0%.

About Gakujo Co., Ltd.

A company listed on the Prime Market of the Tokyo Stock Exchange and a member of Keidanren. Since 2004, it has advocated for "year-round recruitment for those in their 20s." Centered around "(Chosen by 20s) No. 1 job change site for 20s for 7 consecutive years - Direct recruitment site for 20s <Re job>" (Tokyo Shoko Research survey 2019-2025, No. 1 job change site for 20s), "Direct recruitment service for 30s <Re job 30>" with 2 million members, and "Scout-based job-seeking site <Re job Campus>" with 600,000 members, it is a major job search and employment information company that provides total support for recruiting individuals in their 20s and 30s.

It also held Japan's first "Joint Company Seminar" (self-researched) and offers a variety of services related to recruiting young talent, such as "Job Change Expo" and "Job Hunting Expo."

[Founded/1976 Capital/1.5 billion yen Affiliated Organizations/Japan Business Federation, Japan Employment Information Association, Japan Staffing Services Association, Japan Employment Information Publishing Council, The Forestry Culture Association]

https://company.gakujo.ne.jp