Japan’s youths hit hard by pandemic-led job losses

Young workers in Japan have borne the brunt of its economic downturn, with jobs popular among the youth lost after pubs, restaurants and hotels struggle to stay afloat due to COVID-19.

In December, the nation’s jobs market recorded an unemployment rate of 2.9%, which is unchanged from the previous month, but an increase of 2.2% year-on-year, according to data by the Statistics Bureau. 

The effect of the pandemic on jobs is most pronounced among casual workers and youths, writes Nikkei Asia. While the number of regular jobs increased 0.5% in 2020, that of non-regular jobs — including part-time roles — fell 3.9%. 

The unemployment rate for workers aged 15-24 was 5.1% in December, up 0.3 point from November, and is the highest number among all age groups. This figure recorded an increase of 1.9 points from a year before, indicating that this age group suffered the most job losses. 

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Last year, restaurants and hotels axed some 7% of their staff, the biggest cut among all sectors. The sector accounts for about 6% of total employment in Japan, and is a crucial provider of jobs for young people, reports Nikkei Asia.