Diversifying Nonacademic Careers and Career Aspirations Among Graduate Students in Japan: The Role of Career Values and Research Self‐Efficacy

ABSTRACT This study examines how Japanese graduate students' career value orientations and research self‐efficacy shape their aspirations toward academic and nonacademic career paths. Using survey data from 1163 master's and doctoral students across disciplines, three value dimensions were identified: Stability & Benefits, Intellectual/Specialization, and Recognition & Prestige. Logistic regression analyses showed that Stability & Benefits negatively predicted academic and entrepreneurial aspirations but positively related to corporate R&D careers, while Intellectual/Specialization promoted academic and public‐sector research careers. Recognition & Prestige weakly influenced overall choices but was positively associated with venture and entrepreneurship. Notably, research self‐efficacy exerted a positive relation with both academic and venture‐oriented careers. These findings highlight how career values and research self‐efficacy are associated not only with traditional academic aspirations but also, for some students, with interest in venture‐oriented career pathways in Japan.