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].

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].

2023年12月，日本内阁府正式推出了"就职冰河期世代支援计划"（《就職氷河期世代支援プログラ ム》），向1993年～2004年间毕业、至今仍未进入稳定雇佣状态的45～54岁群体，提供职业培训和就业 补贴。这一迟到了近二十年的举措，将一段长期被隐蔽的社会创伤重新拉回到公众的视野。 在日本，"就业冰河期世代"（即就職氷河期世代）是一个精确的时间标签，指的是那些在日本经济泡沫 破裂后踏入职场、却遭遇企业大规模缩招的整整一代人。 这一代人的困境早已渗入日本的文化。无论是是枝裕和的电影《小偷家族》中靠打零工维生的边缘家 庭、村上春树笔下的"悬浮青年"，还是NHK纪录片《无缘社会》中那些与家庭、职场、社群彻底断裂 的个体，无不折射出同一个结构性现实：当经济增长停止，最先被牺牲的，往往是初入职场的年轻人。 据厚生劳动省《大学卒業予定者の就職内定状況》的统计，1992年，日本应届大学毕业生的正规雇佣率 （即签订长期正式劳动合同）为74.3%，到2000年已经下降到了55.1%；同期，非正规雇佣（包括派 遣、合同工、兼职）的比例从12.6%攀升至31.8%。 这一断崖式的下跌，不仅改变了数百万日本年轻人的职业起点，更重塑了日 ...