就业

• Pinyin: jiù yè
• Hanzi breakdown: 就 = 京 (capital) + 尤 (especially), meaning to approach; 业 = simplified from 業, originally depicting a rack for musical instruments, extended to mean profession

Meaning

Employment; to get a job; to enter the workforce. The process of obtaining paid work.

A formal term for obtaining employment, commonly used in news, government policy, and academic contexts. Related expressions include 就业率 (employment rate), 就业市场 (job market), and 就业机会 (employment opportunities). The opposite is 失业 (unemployment).

Examples

1. 大学毕业以后，就业是最重要的事。 After graduating from university, finding employment is the most important thing.
2. 今年的就业形势比去年好。 This year's employment situation is better than last year's.
3. 政府在帮助年轻人就业。 The government is helping young people find employment.

Usage Guide

Context: career, economics, education

Tone: informative

Do Say

• 就业市场竞争很激烈。(The job market is very competitive.)
• 学好英语对就业有帮助。(Learning English well is helpful for employment.)

Don't Say

• 我明天就业了。(Don't use 就业 for starting a specific job — it's a formal/abstract term. Say 我明天开始上班了 for starting a particular job.)

Origin & History

Compound of 就 (to approach, to take up) and 业 (profession, occupation). Literally 'to take up a profession' — to begin working.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal