[Youth Report] "Work Life Doesn't Suit Me... I Want to Work Comfortably" The Rise of the Freeter Generation

'Freeter' Living on Part-Time Jobs
Impact of Worsening Job Market and Changing Job Perceptions

Recently, the number of 'Freeter' individuals who sustain their livelihood solely through part-time jobs without securing full-time employment is increasing among young people. The term Freeter refers to those who make a living through employment forms such as contract workers, part-timers, and part-time jobs, other than regular full-time positions. They typically work just enough to earn the minimum money needed for living expenses, spending the rest of their time immersed in hobbies and other activities. This phenomenon appears to be related to the deterioration of the job market and changing perceptions of employment.

Rapid Increase of Freeter in Korea... Linked to Employment Difficulties

The term Freeter is a neologism combining the English word 'Free,' meaning 'free,' and the German word 'Arbeiter,' meaning 'worker.' It originated in Japan in the early 1990s after the collapse of the bubble economy, when many young people survived solely through part-time jobs without regular employment.

However, in recent years, the proportion of Freeter individuals has sharply increased domestically as well. According to Statistics Korea, the share of part-time workers (short-time workers working less than 30 hours per week) increased by 4.2 percentage points over five years from 2018 to 2022. The proportion of part-time workers showed an increasing trend each year: 12.2% in 2018, 14.0% in 2019, 15.4% in 2020, 16.1% in 2021, and 16.4% in 2022.

Mr. Lee (28), who has worked part-time at a cafe for over a year, said, "I started working part-time because I couldn't find a job and wanted to earn some money first." He added, "I intended to work only until I found a job, but already a year has passed." He also expressed concern, saying, "These days, job postings rarely appear, so I worry about the future."

This phenomenon is related to the worsening employment environment. Young people prepare differentiated qualifications such as certificates, portfolios, and language scores to get a job. However, as the economy slows and the scale of new graduate recruitment shrinks, the employment difficulties have become severe, forcing many to choose the Freeter lifestyle.

Some Choose Voluntary Freeter Lifestyle to Escape Workplace Stress

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the other hand, some people voluntarily choose to be Freeters. They prefer relatively free part-time jobs with lower wages rather than being tied to a full-time workplace. This trend appears as the concept of lifetime employment disappears and a culture that values individual freedom continues.

In fact, videos about Freeter lifestyles are increasingly uploaded on platforms like YouTube. A YouTuber (29) who chose the Freeter lifestyle after working in an office said, "I realized I was not suited for office work. I firmly believed that working freely rather than in a group setting suited me better." He added, "Even after finishing work and coming home, I was always burdened by thoughts and stress about work. But the good thing about part-time work was that I only felt stress during working hours."

As the number of Freeters increases, perceptions of Freeters are also becoming more positive. According to a survey conducted in October last year by the job platform Incruit with 815 members, 7 out of 10 respondents had a positive view of Freeters. The responses were ▲Very positive (15.7%) ▲Generally positive (55.1%) ▲Generally negative (24.7%) ▲Very negative (4.5%).

However, many experts express concern about the rise of Freeters. In particular, in Japan, where the Freeter trend preceded Korea, the Freeter population, mainly in their 20s, has aged into middle age, causing various social problems such as poverty among middle-aged people and solitary deaths.

Japanese economist Yoshio Higuchi pointed out, "The increase in Freeters leads to lower marriage and birth rates and results in a loss of social vitality." According to his research, the probability that a current Freeter remains a Freeter five years later is 50% for those in their teens and twenties, but rises to 70% for those over 30.