Word Of The Week: Freeter

Freeters are becoming a large part of the Japanese workforce, they are basically part-time or temporary workers. I have a lot of friends in this category, some prefer this lifestyle so that they can leave the office at 5:30 or 6 and don't feel the pressure to work overtime, and they can take long vacations or just quit and travle whenever they want. They are usually cushioned by the fact that they live at home. Others can't find full-time employment, it is very difficult to move from temporary or part-time status to full-time status. There was a very interesting article in the LA Times supplement today about "freeters."