Translation guide
In Japanese, expressing 'full-time employment' depends on whether you're talking about the status of being a full-time employee, the job itself, or the system of regular employment. The most common and natural term is 正社員 (seishain), referring to a regular, full-time employee with benefits and job security.
Describing someone's employment status as a regular, full-time worker (as opposed to part-time or contract).
The standard term for a regular, full-time employee. Implies permanent employment with benefits, bonuses, and job security. Commonly used in contrast with 契約社員 (contract employee) or パート (part-timer).
彼は正社員として働いています。
He works as a full-time employee.
正社員になりたいです。
I want to become a full-time employee.
Refers to 'regular employment' as a system or category. More formal and often used in economic or policy contexts. Can be used to describe the status of being employed under such terms.
正規雇用の機会が減っています。
Opportunities for full-time employment are decreasing.
Means 'full-time' in the sense of working a full schedule, often used for professionals like doctors or teachers. Contrasts with 非常勤 (part-time). Can be used as a noun or with の.
常勤の職員を募集しています。
We are hiring full-time staff.
Referring to a full-time job opening or the nature of a position.
Literally 'a regular employee job'. The most natural way to say 'a full-time job' in everyday conversation.
正社員の仕事を探しています。
I'm looking for a full-time job.
Uses the loanword フルタイム. Common and easily understood, but slightly less formal than 正社員. Often implies a set number of hours rather than the full benefits package of a 正社員.
フルタイムの仕事に就きました。
I got a full-time job.
A formal term for a full-time position, often used in job postings or official documents.
常勤職の募集は締め切りました。
The application for the full-time position has closed.
Discussing full-time employment as an abstract concept, often in contrast to non-regular employment.
Refers to the traditional Japanese system of 'lifetime employment', where employees are hired straight from school and stay with the same company until retirement. While not exactly 'full-time employment', it is the cultural and historical backbone of the concept.
終身雇用制度は崩れつつあります。
The lifetime employment system is breaking down.
The formal term for regular employment as a category. Often used in discussions about labor markets or policy.
正社員 implies a permanent position with full benefits, bonuses, and job security, typical of traditional Japanese employment. フルタイム simply means working full-time hours and may not include the same benefits or permanence. Use 正社員 when emphasizing the employment status, and フルタイム when focusing on the work schedule.
彼女は正社員ですが、フルタイムで働いています。
She is a regular employee, but she works full-time.
The direct translation 'フルタイム雇用' is not commonly used and sounds unnatural. Stick to 正社員 or フルタイムの仕事 depending on context.
政府は正規雇用の拡大を目指しています。
The government aims to expand full-time employment.