日本就业冰河期：一代年轻人被冻结的青春

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses Japan's "Employment Ice Age Generation" and the government's newly launched support program aimed at individuals aged 45-54 who graduated between 1993 and 2004 but have not secured stable employment. This initiative highlights a long-standing social issue that has been largely overlooked for nearly two decades [5][6]. Group 1: Employment Challenges - The "Employment Ice Age Generation" refers to those who entered the job market after the economic bubble burst in Japan, facing significant recruitment challenges as companies reduced hiring by approximately 40% from 1993 to 2000 [8][9]. - The shift from a "lifetime employment" model to a focus on immediate productivity has led to a situation where companies prefer hiring experienced workers, leaving many young graduates without opportunities to gain relevant experience [9][10]. - By 2018, around 970,000 individuals from the 1993-2004 graduating cohort were still in "unemployed or non-regular employment" status, earning an average of only 58% of what regular employees made [10][12]. Group 2: Social Implications - The inability to secure stable employment has delayed social milestones such as marriage and home ownership, with marriage rates for men born in 1975 dropping to 58% compared to 72% for those born in 1970 [11][12]. - The lack of stable jobs has contributed to a significant increase in the "working poor" population, with 25% of workers earning less than 2 million yen annually, leading to inadequate social security coverage [12][13]. - The psychological impact of prolonged unemployment has been severe, with increased rates of depression and suicide among young adults, exacerbated by societal stigma surrounding joblessness [15][16]. Group 3: Government Response - The Japanese government has only recently acknowledged the systemic issues faced by the "Employment Ice Age Generation," with the 2023 support program being a delayed response to the long-standing challenges they face [15][18]. - Despite the introduction of this support program, experts suggest that it may have limited effectiveness for older non-regular employees who struggle to compete with younger job seekers [16][18]. - The article emphasizes the need to remember the sacrifices made by this generation, as their struggles have contributed to the current labor market dynamics where younger graduates are now in high demand [18][19].