Society Young Japanese choose job flexibility over full-time employment

The Japanese work ethos undergoes changes: an increasing number of young Japanese workers opt for non-full-time positions, appreciating the flexibility that allows them to pursue their true interests. This trend could potentially necessitate a reassessment of social security programs, which have traditionally been based on the assumption of full-time employment. In 2023, 730,000 individuals aged 25 to 34 deliberately chose non-regular positions, marking an increase of 140,000 compared to a decade earlier. Simultaneously, the number of those who accepted such positions decreased by half due to a lack of full-time opportunities.

According to a survey conducted by the Internal Affairs Ministry, the number of irregular workers aged 25 to 34 in 2023 was 2.37 million, representing a decrease of 640,000 compared to 2013. Among those surveyed, 300,000 individuals stated they could not find a full-time position, marking a decline of 540,000. This group now constitutes 13.1% of the total. Conversely, the percentage of those who expressed a desire to "work when it's convenient for them" increased by 10.6 points, reaching 31.9% from 2013 onwards.

A 25-year-old woman working in Tokyo gave up a full-time job at a major information technology company to work in the music industry as a non-regular worker. "I want to pursue what I want to do, even if it meant a slightly lower salary and less stability," she said. [...] "More people are seeking a fulfilling life outside work. Work values are changing," said professor Shintaro Yamaguchi at the University of Tokyo's Graduate School of Economics. A 25-year-old woman with a part-time job at a restaurant in Tokyo is pursuing an entertainment career through an agency. "I can adjust my working hours to fit my other workload," she said.

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