Japan "Around 30" Generation Had Tough Job Situation: Survey

Osaka, May 17 (Jiji Press)--It was two times more difficult for people aged around 30 than those 10 years older to find regular jobs soon after graduation, according to an Osaka University of Commerce survey.

The survey outcome represented another proof that the job market
situation for the so-called "around 30" generation was more severe than that
for the "around 40" generation.
People now aged around 30 had to find jobs amid Japan's economic
stagnation when they graduated. Meanwhile, the economy was still in its
heyday characterized by the asset inflation-backed "bubble," when those
around 40 graduated from their schools.
The survey by the university's JGSS Research Center showed that
20.4 pct of the around 30 generation were unable to find regular jobs when
they were new graduates, against 11.8 pct for the around 40 generation.
The proportion was 18.8 pct for men and 21.8 pct for women for the
around 30 generation, against 10.1 pct among men and 13.1 pct among women
for the around 40 generation.
The proportion of people whose first jobs after graduation were
nonregular positions, such as working as temporary staff, was 21.3 pct for
the age group of around 30, compared with 8.3 pct for those around 40.
Among men, 16.7 pct of those around 30 and 5.7 pct of those around
40 had nonregular jobs after graduation. A quarter of women around 30 held
nonregular jobs at their first place of employment.
Meanwhile, 45.8 pct of men whose first jobs were nonregular have
experienced marriage, significantly lower than the 69.5 pct for men who
found regular jobs. The rate was 72.1 pct for women who worked first at
nonregular positions, against 81.9 pct for women who were hired as regular
employees.
Noriko Iwai, an Osaka University of Commerce professor for family
sociology, said that measures to close the gaps in employment opportunities
stemming from economic trends need to be worked out because this is a social
problem that could lead to a drop in the country's birthrate and affect its
pension systems.
The survey, conducted in January-March 2009, covered people who
were born between 1966 and 1980.
Of the 2,727 respondents, the research institute classified people
born between 1966 and 1970 as the around 40 generation and those born
between 1976 and 1980 as the around 30 generation.