Many members of the generation that entered the workforce during the economic slump that followed the bursting of the bubble economy remain stuck in unstable employment. The public and private sectors must work together to quickly take steps to help them.
The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry has released a support plan designed to help people in the so-called employment ice age generation find stable jobs. The plan proposed expanded job training and subsidies for companies that hire workers from this generation. The government will position the next three years as a period for focusing on addressing this issue.
The ice age generation, which sought jobs from 1993 until about 2004, numbers about 17 million people. They are aged from their mid-30s to their mid-40s, and about 4 million of them are unemployed or non-regular workers.
The employment situation for new graduates has improved in line with the upturn in economic conditions. However, many people who were unable to find stable jobs during the employment ice age have been left behind. Not a few people have been unable to get married and have a family due to their low income, and feel anxious about their future.
It is significant that the government has launched measures to help such people. A moderate economic recovery is continuing, and corporate performance is solid. For companies looking to recruit, this can be said to be a period in which it is easier to hire workers.
In about 2040, when the employment ice age generation reaches old age, the nation's population of people aged 65 or older will peak. If things continue as they are, the number of destitute elderly people will surge, and there are concerns that snowballing livelihood protection and other expenses could stretch social security finances to the breaking point. Such a situation must be avoided.
Address long-term needs
The ministry's plan draws up a framework through which government authorities, economic organizations and other bodies work together to support the employment ice age generation. Government authorities will collect information about the workplace experience and practical training people receiving this support want to get. The economic organizations will call on companies under their umbrella to recruit such people and hold job interview events.
The plan also proposes establishing training courses through which qualifications that could lead to jobs can be obtained in the short term, through organizations in the construction, transport and other industries suffering labor shortages.
Bolstering work training that matches the needs of industrial circles will be vital for ensuring such efforts lead to the smooth hiring of workers. An effective list of measures needs to be prepared.
The ice age generation includes some people who have been out of work for many years or have become withdrawn from society. It will not be easy for them to immediately try to become full-time regular employees if they have difficulties with interpersonal relationships and maintaining a regular rhythm in their daily lives.
Creativity will be necessary to tailor ways for each person to participate in society and be independent in order to facilitate their efforts. Organizations that help young people find employment and support services for people struggling to get by should work together to help them.
Boosting the income non-regular workers earn in their golden years also will be crucial.
Unlike regular employees, many part-time and other non-regular workers are excluded from employees' pension insurance systems and they can only receive basic pension benefits. Further enlarging the range of people eligible to receive employees' pension insurance will be an important topic for consideration during the next batch of pension revisions scheduled for next year.
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 31, 2019)
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