Report on the 'Oshigoto Fair 2026' Event Attended by 5,963 High School Students

Jinjib (Osaka City), which operates employment support programs for high school students, held the career experience event 'Oshigoto Fair 2026' from May 8 to June 19 at 19 locations nationwide. With job listings for the Class of 2027 set to be officially released on July 1, this event provided an early opportunity for students to gain industry insights and hands-on work experience, attracting 5,963 high school participants.

Below is an in-depth analysis of high school students’ career perspectives and job selection criteria based on event observations and participant surveys.

[Summary of the Oshigoto Fair 2026 Report]

- Held across 19 locations nationwide, with 589 companies and organizations exhibiting and 5,963 high school students participating. - Top reasons for seeking employment: 1st: 'Want to become independent and start earning early' (38.7%), 2nd: 'Have a clear idea of desired job or career' (30.9%). - Key factors in perceiving a company as appealing: 'Positive workplace atmosphere and interpersonal relationships' (63.3%), 'Job content seems interesting' (39.4%). - 82.5% of students reported that their image of a job changed after speaking with company representatives, with 50.3% stating they gained new insights and clearer understanding.

Background of the Oshigoto Fair

On July 1, 2026, job listings for high school graduates (Class of 2027, expected to graduate in March 2027) will be officially released, marking the official start of job-hunting activities. With a job-to-applicant ratio of 4.12 for the Class of 2026 (※1), high school graduate recruitment remains highly competitive amid ongoing labor shortages. As concerns grow over early resignations and career mismatches, opportunities for students to experience real work through career fairs are becoming increasingly important. Additionally, a Jinjib survey found that approximately 60% of recent high school graduates felt they 'should have gathered more information' before entering the workforce (※2).

To support students ahead of the official job listing release, Jinjib hosted the 'Oshigoto Fair 2026' from May 8 to June 19 at 19 locations nationwide, allowing high school students to experience real jobs and aiding their career decision-making.

※1 Source: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, 'Summary of Job Openings, Job Seekers, and Job Offers for New High School and Junior High School Graduates via Hello Work (as of March 2028)'

※2 Jinjib 'High School Graduate Employment Survey: Reflections on Job Hunting (Class of 2025)'

<Results of the Oshigoto Fair 2026>

From May 8 to June 19, the 'Oshigoto Fair' was held at 19 locations nationwide, with 589 companies and organizations participating as exhibitors.

A total of 5,963 high school students attended, engaging in hands-on job experiences and direct conversations with local companies to learn about various industries and occupations.

According to participant surveys, 82.5% responded that 'their image of a job changed after speaking directly with company representatives,' with 50.3% stating they 'gained new insights and a more concrete understanding.' Regarding factors that made a company seem appealing, 'positive workplace atmosphere and interpersonal relationships' (63.3%) and 'job content seems interesting' (39.4%) ranked highest, indicating that direct interaction and hands-on experiences helped students connect with their interests. (※3)

Exhibiting companies provided positive feedback, such as 'high student engagement' and 'we were able to speak with more students than expected,' resulting in an 85.1% satisfaction rate among participating companies. (※4)

※3 Based on the Oshigoto Fair 2026 Participant Survey (n=898). Survey results detailed below.

※4 Based on the Oshigoto Fair 2026 Exhibitor Survey (n=530)

Highlights from the Oshigoto Fair 2026

▴ The Yamaguchi venue was held for the first time. ▴ 835 high school students participated in the Osaka venue.

▴ Wiring connection and tool usage experience (Construction, Fukuoka) ▴ Tuna block model weighing and packaging experience (Manufacturing, Shizuoka)

▴ Cashier and product display experience (Supermarket, Kyoto) ▴ Automotive mechanic experience (Retail, Okayama)

▴ Formwork model experience (Construction, Sendai) ▴ Simple asphalt paving experience (Construction, Kumamoto)

▴ Gift wrapping experience (Retail, Tokyo) ▴ Hamburger customer service experience (Food Service, Yamaguchi)

<Survey of High School Participants at Oshigoto Fair 2026>

Career Decision-Making

① Post-graduation career aspirations

Among the 898 high school students who responded to the survey, 41.4% expressed interest in employment, while 28.5% hoped to continue their education. Combined, 29.5% were still undecided or exploring options.

② Reasons for choosing employment as a career path (multiple responses allowed)

Top responses included 'want to become independent and start earning early' (38.7%) and 'have a clear idea of the job or career I want' (30.9%).

Changes observed in students who experienced the Oshigoto Fair

③ Perceived company appeal through conversations and experiences (multiple responses)

Top responses: 'Positive workplace atmosphere and interpersonal relationships' (63.3%), 'Job content seems interesting' (39.4%), 'Company president and employees seem like good people' (38.6%).

④ Changes in job perception after speaking with company representatives

82.5% of students reported that their image of a job changed after speaking with company representatives.

⑤ Changes in mindset regarding career path after the event (multiple responses)

Responses included: 'I realized jobs seem enjoyable' (25.2%), 'I want to think more carefully from now on' (23.9%), 'I discovered my areas of interest' (18.4%).

[Survey Overview and Demographics]

Survey Period: May 8 – June 19, 2026

Method: Questionnaire distributed to attendees of the Jinjib-hosted 'Oshigoto Fair 2026'

Target: High school students in grades 1–4 (Grade 4 refers to part-time program students)

Valid Responses: n=898 (Breakdown: Graduating March 2027: 545; March 2028: 259; March 2029: 86; Others: 8)

Survey Locations: All 19 venues of the Oshigoto Fair

Voices from Oshigoto Fair 2026 Participants

High School Students

・Third-year high school student (job-seeking)

I was originally interested in becoming a driver, like my father. However, after speaking with several company booths at the Oshigoto Fair, I became interested in security work as well.

・Third-year high school student (job-seeking)

I was considering employment as a career path but hadn’t decided on a specific job. This was a valuable opportunity to hear from various companies.

・Second-year high school student (job-seeking)

I participated as part of my school curriculum. At the construction company booth, I experienced screw-driving for the first time. Although I already had a target industry, this event helped me better understand society and communicate with professionals from various fields, which I believe will benefit my job-hunting next year.

Exhibiting Companies

・Yasuhira Co., Ltd. (Service Industry, Tokyo venue)

We have exhibited multiple times. As our average employee age increased and we struggled with hiring young talent after long reliance on mid-career hires, we decided to start hiring high school graduates. Being a locally rooted company, we aim to strengthen ties with local high schools and contribute to the community through employment. Since starting high school graduate hiring, we’ve engaged in school visits and on-campus seminars, but found these efforts time-consuming and insufficient for meaningful student interaction.

By exhibiting at the Oshigoto Fair and Job Draft Fes, we’ve been able to establish direct contact with high school students. Each year, we see increasing interest and engagement.