Members of the "employment ice age generation" graduated from high school or university from around 1993 to 2004, when it was extremely hard for new graduates to find regular full-time work as businesses cut back on hiring following the collapse of the bubble boom and the subsequent financial industry crisis. Now in their mid-30s to mid-40s, more members of this generation remain stuck in unstable irregular jobs and earn less than their older counterparts. Concern is mounting that as they enter retirement age, large numbers of this generation could face poverty with low or no pension benefits and be forced to rely on welfare support, putting greater pressure on the social security system.
The government has compiled a draft measure to help members of this generation get better paying regular full-time jobs. The reported draft seeks to provide intensive support to about 1 million members of the ice age generation who are particularly needy — with the ambitious goal of having 300,000 of them land regular full-time jobs within three years by providing job counseling and practical training programs.
Officials may assume that given the current severe manpower shortage it would be easier now for members of that generation to find more stable jobs with better conditions. Still, it appears the action is being taken too late as many of the older members of the ice age generation have endured hardships for more than two decades now and missed opportunities to acquire sufficient job skills and career experience. It's not clear whether the planned measure will change the tendency of businesses to prioritize the hiring of younger workers fresh out of school for full-time positions. Steady and long-term efforts must be made to support this generation.