正規雇用

• Reading: せいきこよう
• Romaji: seikikoyou
• Kanji breakdown: 正 (sei) — correct, standard; 規 (ki) — rule, standard; 雇 (ko) — hire, employ; 用 (you) — use, employ
• Pronunciation: /seː.ki.ko.joː/

Meaning

Regular employment; standard full-time employment with benefits and job security.

A compound noun referring to the traditional Japanese employment model: full-time, open-ended contracts with full benefits, social insurance, and job protections. Contrasts with 非正規雇用 (irregular/non-standard employment). The distinction between 正規 and 非正規 is a central topic in Japanese labour discussions, as the gap in pay and benefits between the two has been a major social issue.

Examples

1. 正規雇用の割合は年々低下している。 The proportion of regularly employed workers is declining year by year.
2. 彼はアルバイトから正規雇用に切り替わった。 He switched from part-time work to regular full-time employment.
3. 正規雇用と非正規雇用の待遇差が問題視されている。 The disparity in treatment between regular and non-regular employees is being viewed as a problem.

Usage Guide

Context: labour, economics, human resources

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese: 正規 (seiki, regular/standard) + 雇用 (koyou, employment/hiring). Literally 'standard employment' — the norm against which other employment forms are measured.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Universal