Translation guide
In Japanese, referring to an unemployed person depends heavily on context, formality, and whether the person is actively seeking work. The most common everyday term is 無職, but it can sound blunt. For official or statistical contexts, 失業者 is used. In casual conversation, people often use descriptive phrases or euphemisms.
The most neutral and widely used word for an unemployed person, suitable for everyday conversation but can be direct.
Literally 'no occupation'. This is the standard term for an unemployed person. It can be used in most situations but may carry a slightly negative or blunt nuance, so be mindful of context.
彼は今無職です。
He is currently unemployed.
無職の期間が長くなってきた。
My period of unemployment has been getting longer.
Means 'unemployed person' in a more formal or statistical sense, often used in news reports or economic discussions. It implies job loss and is associated with the unemployment rate.
失業者数が増加している。
The number of unemployed people is increasing.
A descriptive phrase meaning 'a person without a job'. It's softer and more roundabout than 無職, often used in casual conversation to avoid sounding too direct.
仕事がない人は大変だ。
People without jobs have it tough.
A more formal or written variant of 無職, explicitly meaning 'unemployed person'. Less common in daily speech.
無職者への支援が必要だ。
Support for unemployed people is necessary.
Refers to people who are voluntarily unemployed, such as homemakers, students, or those living off savings, where the nuance is not necessarily negative.
Still the most common term, but context clarifies whether it's voluntary. Can be used neutrally for anyone without a job, including housewives or retirees.
彼女は専業主婦で、無職です。
She is a full-time housewife and doesn't have a job.
Literally 'a person who is not working'. This is a very neutral, descriptive phrase that avoids the potentially negative connotation of 無職. Suitable for any context.
働いていない人は、時間が自由だ。
People who aren't working have free time.
From the English acronym NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training). Used in Japanese to refer to young people who are not working or studying, often with a negative or critical nuance.
Can be derogatory; avoid using it to describe someone unless you know the context well.
Used in news, government statistics, or formal discussions about the labor market.
The standard term in economic reports and news. It specifically refers to people who are actively seeking work but cannot find it.
完全失業者は前月比で減少した。
The number of completely unemployed people decreased from the previous month.
Means 'job seeker'. While not exactly 'unemployed person', it's often used in contexts where the focus is on people looking for work, which implies unemployment.
In Japanese culture, direct references to unemployment can be sensitive. These options soften the statement.
A common, polite way to say 'I'm not working right now' without using the word 'unemployed'. It implies a temporary situation and is safe for most social situations.
今は仕事をしていないんです。
I'm not working at the moment.
Means 'currently seeking employment'. It's a positive, forward-looking way to describe unemployment, focusing on the job search rather than the lack of a job.
ただいま求職中です。
I am currently looking for a job.
Literally 'staying at home'. In context, this can be a very indirect way to imply unemployment, often used by homemakers or those who have left the workforce. It's vague and context-dependent.
Only use when the context makes the meaning clear; otherwise it just means 'at home'.
今は家にいるから、時間はあるよ。
I'm at home these days, so I have time.
Directly saying 無職の人 can sound blunt or judgmental. In friendly conversation, it's often better to use softer expressions like 今仕事をしていない人 or simply describe the situation.
あの人は今仕事を探しているんだって。
I heard that person is looking for a job now.
無職 simply means having no job, regardless of reason. 失業者 specifically refers to someone who lost their job and is actively seeking work, often used in economic contexts. A retiree is 無職 but not 失業者.
He's a NEET and plays games every day.
求職者向けのセミナーを開催します。
We will hold a seminar for job seekers.