noun
job ranking; job grade; occupational rank
Refers to the hierarchical level or grade of a position within an organization, often used in contexts like civil service, military, or corporate structures.
公務員の職階制度は複雑だ。
The job ranking system for civil servants is complicated.
彼は職階が上がって課長になった。
He was promoted in job rank and became a section chief.
Compound of 職 (shoku, 'job, occupation') and 階 (kai, 'rank, floor, storey'), with the reading しょっかい resulting from the assimilation of しょく + かい.