Many Japanese young people are keen on switching workplaces because of dissatisfaction with their jobs. As the number of temporary workers continues to increase, the financial problems of such employees become severe.
This situation is accelerating the declining rate of marriage and births in Japan. It also undermines consumer purchasing power and tax revenue for the government. While the average yearly salary of regular employees is a little more than ¥3 million, that of part-time workers is only about ¥1 million.
To increase regular employment and encourage young people to continue with their jobs, there are two things companies should do:
Expand the ways in which students can find employment. Nowadays college students begin their job hunt all at once. If students miss this chance, it becomes difficult for them to get a job as a regular full-time employee.
After landing their first job, some young people discover that their true passion lies in a different type of work, while others want to study overseas to broaden their horizons. Companies should allow for a more roundabout recruitment route. A variety of experiences make for valuable diversity among employees.
Spend more time educating and training employees. Company duties have become so complicated and specialized these days that only a handful of people qualify for employment right from the start. New workers would be more usable if companies gave them more opportunities to train and educate themselves.
The opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are the writer's own and do not necessarily reflect the policies of The Japan Times.