Question 1

In my mere observation, I don't think unemployment is a big problem in Japan now. I can see a lot of job hiring postings and I've heard of businesses having to shorten their operation hours just because they don't have staff to work on the night shift. Yes, landing a job can be competitive in certain industries. Job mismatch is also another dilemma but overall I think Japan has a steady employment rate even during the height of the pandemic.

Question 2

Yes, just like how the employment rate in other countries is mainly influenced by economic conditions, Japan's employment rate also goes boom and bust. However, I do think they have more stringent labor laws here that protect employees from getting the pink slip without any solid grounds.

Question 3

My father retired when he was in his 50's. He was self-employed at that time and was running a fish shop. We made the decision because it was taking a toll on his health. The job requires that he needs to be up by the wee hours of the morning and he needs to travel constantly from the fish port to fish markets.

Question 4

I think they can get by. However, with the surge of commodity prices now they might have to cut back on some expenses. On a different note, if they are having a hard time looking for a job, the government should provide basic training or programs to equip them with the necessary skills. Hopefully, they'll be more competitive and can join the workforce when they graduate from the program.

Question 5

This has been a controversial debate. The younger workforce has been complaining of high taxes and blames it on the aging population. However, I think that this is just an inevitable cycle. We will all eventually get old and we wouldn't want the younger generation to make us feel like a burden when that time comes.

Question 6

The pandemic has stretched out for almost two years. In the first few months, businesses were in a state of shock. Some were initially hopeful and made some adjustments to keep their business afloat. However, as this unprecedented crisis continues, some business owners have decided to cut their losses and just close their shops.

Tough Vocabulary

Question 1

My father recently mentioned to me that the airlines in America are incredibly short staffed. Many sectors in the US are looking for more workers. This is quite surprising to me because I keep hearing about high unemployment rates worldwide. From what I've been reading online, people are demanding better wages and basically fighting the system in hopes of getting fair treatment. I hope it works out.

Question 2

I would assume that Japan would experience waves much like other countries, though life long employment seems much more stable here.

Question 3

Everyone in my family has left a job at some point. In America it's more common than in Japan to move on if you find something more interesting with better pay. Layoffs also happen sometimes. My father was once laid off when his company could no longer afford to keep all of its employees. He had to move to find another job in the same sector.

Question 4

I don't know anyone on unemployment in Japan, but I would assume that people who are receiving unemployment are probably wanting more than what they are getting, much like in America. I have heard about many pensioners having to take on part time jobs to get by, which is not very encouraging.

Question 5

More caretakers are needed if there is a larger aging population, creating jobs in that sector. Also, with our increasing technology, younger people can go into robotics and AI, building robots that an help the elderly with certain tasks. Those robots could help all ages eventually, which would be a definite benefit.

Question 6

Many people lost their jobs and businesses due to COVID-19, especially those in the tourism and hospitality sector. Even years later, many people are still looking for stable employment.

Tough Vocabulary