日本“鸡娃”大败局：挤破脑袋上好大学，毕业后批量式啃老

Core Insights - The article discusses the decline in the value of degrees in Japan over the past 30 years, highlighting the shift from a strong belief in the security provided by a university degree to a reality where degrees have become less valuable [1][10]. Group 1: Historical Context - In the 1980s, Japanese society believed that obtaining a university degree guaranteed a stable future, with companies offering attractive benefits to recruit graduates [2][3]. - The job market was highly competitive, with top graduates receiving multiple job offers and high salaries, leading to a culture of intense academic pressure among students [3][4]. - The economic bubble burst in the 1990s, leading to a significant decline in corporate profits and a surge in unemployment, particularly affecting the large cohort of graduates entering the job market during this period [5][7][8]. Group 2: Employment Crisis - The employment rate for university graduates began to decline sharply from 1992, with the job market becoming increasingly bleak as companies laid off employees and reduced hiring [9][12]. - Many graduates turned to further education, such as graduate school, in hopes of improving their job prospects, but this strategy did not yield the expected results as the job market continued to worsen [12][13]. - The rise in competition for limited public sector jobs led to a significant increase in the number of applicants for civil service positions, but the government’s hiring capacity could not keep pace with demand [13][14]. Group 3: Societal Impact - The phenomenon of "NEET" (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) emerged, with a significant increase in young people living with their parents due to unemployment [14][15]. - The term "lost generation" was coined to describe those who faced severe employment challenges during the economic downturn, leading to a societal perception of failure among these individuals [15][26]. Group 4: Government Response - The Japanese government implemented various policies to address the employment crisis, including initiatives to increase the number of graduate students and improve job training programs [17][18]. - Despite these efforts, the expansion of higher education did not correlate with improved employment rates, leading to a surplus of highly educated individuals without corresponding job opportunities [18][19]. - The introduction of labor dispatch laws in 1999 allowed for more flexible employment practices, but this often resulted in lower wages and job security for workers [21][22]. Group 5: Current Trends - Recently, Japan's job market has shown signs of recovery, with the employment rate for new graduates reaching a historical high in 2024, driven by demographic changes such as an aging population and declining birth rates [28][29]. - However, the article emphasizes that the underlying issues of educational inflation and a mismatch between degree attainment and job market needs remain unresolved, highlighting the need for economic innovation and industry growth to create sustainable employment opportunities [30][31].