年功序列(ねんこうじょれつ)

ねんこうじょれつ
noun
seniority-based system
businessbusiness
1. seniority-based system, seniority ranking
A system in which employees are promoted and receive pay raises based primarily on their length of service and age, rather than on individual performance. A hallmark of traditional Japanese corporate culture.
年功序列(ねんこうじょれつ)の給与(きゅうよ)体系(たいけい)を見直(みなお)す。
Review the seniority-based pay system.
年功序列(ねんこうじょれつ)から成果(せいか)主義(しゅぎ)へ移行(いこう)する企業(きぎょう)が増(ふ)えている。
More and more companies are shifting from a seniority-based system to a merit-based one.
年功序列(ねんこうじょれつ)は安定(あんてい)をもたらす一方(いっぽう)で、若手(わかて)のモチベーションを下(さ)げるという批判(ひはん)もある。
While the seniority system brings stability, there is also criticism that it lowers the motivation of younger employees.

Cultural note

One of the three pillars of traditional Japanese employment, along with 終身雇用(しゅうしんこよう) (lifetime employment) and 企業別組合(きぎょうべつくみあい) (enterprise-based labor unions). Since the 1990s, many companies have gradually moved toward performance-based (成果(せいか)主義(しゅぎ)) evaluation systems, though seniority-based elements remain widespread.

Common collocations

  • 年功序列(ねんこうじょれつ)制(せい): seniority system
  • 年功序列(ねんこうじょれつ)型(がた): seniority-based model
  • 年功序列(ねんこうじょれつ)を廃止(はいし)する: to abolish the seniority system

Related Words

Related: 終身雇用(しゅうしんこよう) (lifetime employment)
Antonym: 実力主義(じつりょくしゅぎ) (meritocracy)
Compare: 成果(せいか)主義(しゅぎ) (meritocracy)
Related: 抜擢人事(ばってきじんじ) (promotion based on merit)
Related: 終身雇用制(しゅうしんこようせい) (lifetime employment system)
Compare: 実績(じっせき)主義(しゅぎ) (meritocracy)
general
Added 2026.2.21 20:59 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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