雇用

• Reading: こよう
• Romaji: koyou
• Kanji breakdown: 雇 (ko) — employ, hire; 用 (you) — use, utility
• Pronunciation: /ko.jo.ɯ/

Meaning

Employment; hiring. The act or state of employing workers.

A noun central to labour economics and HR. Key collocations: 雇用契約 (employment contract), 雇用保険 (employment insurance), 雇用形態 (employment type — full-time, part-time, contract), 正規雇用 (regular employment), 非正規雇用 (non-regular employment). Also used as a する-verb meaning 'to employ.'

Examples

1. 地方の雇用を増やすために、企業誘致に力を入れている。 Efforts are being made to attract businesses in order to increase employment in rural areas.
2. 非正規雇用の割合が全体の4割近くに達している。 Non-regular employment now accounts for nearly 40% of the total workforce.
3. 雇用条件をよく確認してから契約書にサインするべきだ。 You should carefully review the employment conditions before signing the contract.

Usage Guide

Context: business, labour, economics

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese: 雇 (ko, employ/hire) + 用 (you, use/utility). Literally 'hiring for use' — engaging someone for their services.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Universal