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| 転職希望者は年々増加傾向にある。理由は社会の変化にあるのだろうか。「スキルアップ」「キャリアアップ」と考える人も増えているようだ。 |
Japan in Numbers #3
Today's number is... [ 12.0 ] |
* 2005/4/20 配信 ALC Newsletter No.10(ALC
International Marketing 発行)より
* クリックできる語句には、語注がついています
12.0 -- it's the percentage of those who are hoping to change jobs among the total employed population(*). The number has gradually risen in the last three decades; it was about 7.5% in 1977, and 9% in 1987. If you take a look at the percentage of those who are in their 20's, it's even higher; 23.5% for people from 20 to 24, and 20% for people from 25 to 29.
We can probably say these numbers are quite high, considering the fact that most Japanese companies had long adopted lifetime employment and seniority-based pay. Many Japanese people, especially men, used to consider changing jobs as a taboo and would result in negative status among the company and society.
However, there has been a recent trend among Japanese companies toward adopting merit-based systems, in an attempt to become more globally competitive. And so they're now more interested in hiring experienced people rather than new graduates. This is one of the main reasons that changing jobs has become much easier than before.
On the other hand, some people, especially the elderly, point out there is another reason; the widespread individualism among younger generations. The Japanese have long been good at cooperating with others including bosses and co-workers, but the younger generations are much more individualistic and selfish, and so they just quit jobs as soon as they find something they don't like...Well, we don't know if this is true, but I guess this kind of discussion based on generation gaps has always existed anytime, anywhere! (giggles)
No matter what the reasons may be, there's one thing that no one would oppose to: You can't get a good job unless you have skills. There has been a big boom among the young Japanese toward getting occupation qualifications or certifications, which can help them get better jobs.
And English is, of course, one of the skills considered most important. More and more people are now taking the TOEIC test, and deciding to study English abroad. I sure hope that this trend will make more and more people interested in learning English, and also able to communicate better with people around the world!
(*) Data as of 2002 by the Statistics Bureau, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications
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