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Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

Ratio of non-regular jobs hits record 33%

An Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry survey shows that the average percentage of non-regular employment such as part-time jobs and workers on contracts hit a record high at 32.9 percent for the July-September period. The findings were published on November 29.

Particularly among the age group 15-24, 46 percent of the employed are on non-regular jobs. With half of young people obliged to take unstable jobs, it is very difficult for young people to get married and have families. Currently, the number of non-regular workers is 16.5 million.

Another survey by the same ministry shows that the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for October (preliminary report) is 4.5 percent, higher than the month before. A breakdown by age groups shows that the unemployment rate among workers at age 24 and younger is 8.6 percent.

The number of the unemployed increased to 3.04 million, an increase of 190,000 from September. The number of employed is 64.09 million, 280,000 less than September.
- Akahata, November 30, 2005