In May, an article in the business magazine President cited a survey of newly hired company workers in which a majority of those recruited this year indicated they were content to "strive for the commonplace." The headline read: ｢人並みで十分」な新入社員が増えている ("Hitonami de jūbun"-na shinnyū shain ga fuete-iru, New company hires who are satisfied to "be like everybody else" are increasing).
According to the survey, nearly 60 percent gave such a response, roughly double the 30 percent who agreed with the statement 人並み以上に働きたい (Hitonami ijō ni hatarakitai, I want to work at a level that's above the ordinary).
The article concluded that young workers' attitudes toward work are changing for the worse, or as they put it, ｢働くこと」に対して冷めている ("Hataraku koto" ni taishite samete-iru, Attitudes toward work are cooling).