1.
employment ice age; era of severe job scarcity
A period of extremely poor job prospects for new graduates in Japan, primarily referring to the late 1990s through early 2000s following the burst of the economic bubble. The generation affected is known as the 'ice age generation.'
就職氷河期に社会に出た世代だ。
It's the generation that entered the workforce during the employment ice age.
就職氷河期には正社員になれない若者が大勢いた。
During the employment ice age, there were many young people who couldn't become full-time employees.
政府は就職氷河期世代の支援策として、正規雇用への転換を促進するプログラムを実施している。
The government is implementing programs to promote conversion to regular employment as a support measure for the ice age generation.
CULTURE:
The term was coined around 1994 to describe the sharp decline in new graduate hiring after the collapse of Japan's asset price bubble. The 就職氷河期世代 (ice age generation), born roughly between 1970 and 1984, faced extremely competitive job markets. Many were forced into non-regular employment (非正規雇用), and this economic disadvantage has had lasting effects on their careers, income, and family formation.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 就職氷河期世代 (the ice age generation)
- 就職氷河期の影響 (effects of the employment ice age)
- 就職氷河期対策 (measures to address the employment ice age)