University Student Employment Popularity Rankings 2026: A Thorough Analysis of the Rapid Rise of "Ryohin Keikaku" in the Humanities and the Emergence of "Denso" in the Sciences

Table of Contents

1. Research Overview and Overall Trends

2. Movements in the Top 10 Humanities Rankings

3. Movements in the Top 10 Science Rankings

4. Three Factors That Boosted Ryohin Keikaku's Popularity Among Humanities Students

5. Four Factors That Earned Denso Support Among Science Students

6. Shift in Student Values and Corporate Recruitment Strategies

7. The Power of "Real Workplace" Experience Seen in Internships

8. Future Key Industries and Corporate Responses Required

9. Conclusion—Advice for Job Seekers and Recommendations for Companies

1. Research Overview and Overall Trends

• Survey Name: Mynavi & Nikkei 2026 Graduate University Student Employment Company Popularity Ranking

• Number of Respondents: 35,419 (25,163 Humanities, 10,256 Science)career-research.mynavi.jp

• Period: October 1, 2024 – March 25, 2025

• Characteristics: Trends in generative AI and EV-related technologies, and the visualization of ESG management influenced student company preferences. Recovery in aviation and travel, and reevaluation of the automotive sector were also notable.

2. Top 10 Humanities Rankings

(Source: Mynavi & Nikkei Ranking)career-research.mynavi.jp

3. Top 10 Science Rankings

(Source: Mynavi & Nikkei Ranking)x.comjob.mynavi.jp

4. Three Factors That Boosted Ryohin Keikaku's Popularity Among Humanities Students

4-1. Mission-Driven Management of "Pleasant Living" × Regional Co-creation

The policy of becoming a "platform company solving regional issues" as stated in MUJI REPORT 2024 resonated with the Gen Z's desire to solve social issues.ryohin-keikaku.jp

4-2. Project Stories Led by Young Employees

The recruitment site was completely revamped to showcase examples of store renovations and product development planned by employees in their 20s through videos, highlighting the "degree of discretion" by demonstrating autonomous career paths.ryohin-keikaku.jp

4-3. Internships Experiencing the Circular Economy

A 5-day PBL-style internship was launched where participants design storefront collection⇒product regeneration lines. The word spread that "you can learn directly about social contribution and business," gaining a fan base before the selection process.

5. Four Factors That Earned Denso Support Among Science Students

5-1. Positioning as an "Automotive Semiconductor Manufacturer" in the EV Era

Approximately 45% of revenue comes from electrification-related products, and a plan was announced to increase the in-house production ratio of power semiconductors from 30% to 50% by fiscal 2028. This appealed to students interested in mobility × electronics.denso.com

5-2. Opening of the Cross-Disciplinary Research Base "DENSO D-Square" in the CASE Domain

Spaces for testing autonomous driving and smart cities were opened, and hackathon-style internships were conducted. The freedom for students to set their own research themes was highly valued.

5-3. Dismantling of Seniority System and Transition to Job-Based System

In 2024, all technical positions will be integrated into a job-based grade system, with performance-based components added from the starting salary. This aligns with the needs of science graduate students who want to hone their expertise early.

5-4. "Field × HR" Collaborative Communication on X (formerly Twitter)

Development engineers themselves answered job-hunting FAQs in threads, creating a buzz. The official account's engagement rate was 8.1% on average, one of the highest in the industry.x.com

6. Shift in Student Values and Corporate Recruitment Strategies

• Purpose-Driven: "Solving social issues" was the top reason for aspirations (57.3%).

• Work Style Emphasis: There is a tendency to prioritize learning opportunities and cross-border experiences over the possibility of remote work.

• Information Sources: Official SNS + personal employee posts are the standard.

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