Thirty-nine. No proper job. Helps nearby farms and collects rice for meals. Goes on a trip once enough money is collected from part-time jobs. Earns annual salary of 1 million yen ($6,650). Occasionally broadens knowledge by borrowing books from the library. This lifestyle mirrors the character in Tokai TV’s “How to Spend 3,000 Yen,” which aired last year in Japan. The character happily asserts, “Life can be enjoyed without much money.”
This type of individual is commonly referred to as “Freeter,” a term combining “Free” and “Arbeiter,” a part-time worker. It is a prevalent form of life among people in their 20s to 30s in Japan, where low growth has prolonged. In South Korea, a growing number of youths in their 20s and 30s, regardless of their economic situation, voluntarily leave their full-time jobs to work part-time for a minimal income.
A woman in her 20s who works at a convenience store in Yongsan, Seoul, recently resigned from a company she worked diligently to get into. After graduating from a four-year university in Seoul, she finally got the job she desired after applying for over 200 jobs. However, life as a corporate employee did not meet her expectations.
Walking on eggshells at work daily, she progressively lost weight, all the while earning a bare minimum wage of two million won. After quitting, she prepared for the civil service exam but gave that up, too. “It turned out the annual salary of a civil serviceman is lower than a regular company employee. I began night part-time jobs because I couldn’t just play around. They pay relatively well. I am uncertain if this lifestyle will last long, but I am satisfied for now.”
Another person in their late 20s also enjoys a fulfilling life with three part-time jobs, earning about 1.5 million won ($1,100) monthly. “Did I give up pursuing a proper job? My friends pity me, too. I used to stress filling out job applications, but I am happy now. I would rather earn money through easy physical work than listen to all those hateful comments in small companies and receive minimum wage.”
The interviewee said he doesn’t think about love or marriage; His focus is eating good food and earning sufficient money to travel to nearby places during his time off. “If you do not compare yourself to others and do not expect a lot, it is okay to live like me,” he said. On YouTube, numerous videos showcase the daily lives of freeters, with titles including “A 25-year-old who works part-time at a bread factory without a proper job,” “How to make a living as a cleaning serviceman in his 30s,” “43-year-old who works at a convenience store for 10,000 won an hour after leaving a large company.”
The term “freeter” first appeared in the late 1990s during the foreign exchange crisis. The ongoing employment crisis, driven by an economic downturn, forced many people onto the streets and into the short-term part-time job market. If they couldn’t find full-time employment, there was no other option but to take on part-time work. Not only did this include those in their 20s and 30s, but also individuals in their 40s and 50s who were laid off by companies. Becoming a “freeter” was not a voluntary decision.
The modern freeter, however, differs from those in the past. Even when there are job opportunities that welcome them, they opt for part-time work by choice. The reason is simple: they refuse to do work they dislike, believing that this path leads to happiness.
In a survey of 815 members conducted by the job recruitment site Incruit in October last year, 71% of adults viewed the freeter lifestyle positively. The most common reason, cited by 46.1%, was because it allows one to live the life they desire. Other reasons included “it will reduce stress from social life and lead to better health” at 22%, “having more time for hobbies and personal interests” at 17%, and “the opportunity to try different kinds of work” at 13.3%. When asked if they would consider becoming a freeter in the future, excluding those who already identified as such, 51.5% said yes. The intention was highest among people in their 30s at 54.3%, followed by those in their 20s at 51.9%.
There are concerns that the lifestyle choices of the Generation MZ (Millennials and Generation Z) might lead to poverty in old age for individuals and to a weakening of national competitiveness. Short-term part-time jobs are not sustainable and offer unstable income, making the future uncertain. It is also difficult to receive benefits from social safety nets, such as health insurance.
Thus, views on the freeter lifestyle are mixed. Some view it positively, saying, “One can live just fine by simply lowering their expectations and satisfaction levels, without leading a glamorous life,” and “That’s what true happiness is.” Others express concern, describing it as “a typical example of someone who thinks their youth and health will last forever, but inevitably, there will be a price to pay,” and warning that “Eventually, such people end up being supported by the state.”
This article was originally published on March 2, 2024.
