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 [4]. Group 1: Employment Trends - The "Employment Ice Age Generation" refers to those who entered the job market after the economic bubble burst in Japan, facing significant recruitment cuts and a shift in employment practices [4][6]. - From 1992 to 2000, the regular employment rate for new university graduates in Japan dropped from 74.3% to 55.1%, while non-regular employment rose from 12.6% to 31.8% [5]. - The average recruitment numbers for new graduates in large companies decreased by approximately 40% between 1993 and 2000, leading to a competitive job market where the ratio of job seekers to available positions reached 40:1 in 2003 [8][10]. Group 2: Societal Impact - 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 [12]. - The average annual income for non-regular employees from the 1993-2004 graduating cohort was only 58% of that of regular employees, perpetuating long-term inequality [10]. - The psychological impact of prolonged unemployment has led to increased rates of depression and suicide among young adults, with economic issues cited as a primary cause [15]. 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 their struggles [14][19]. - Despite the introduction of training and employment subsidies, experts suggest that older non-regular employees will still face challenges competing for new job opportunities against younger candidates [14][19]. - The current labor market dynamics, where companies are now competing for new graduates, are a direct consequence of the sacrifices made by the previous generation, which has led to a labor shortage [18].