失業
shitsugyō[ɕi̥t͡sɨɡʲo̞ː]
The English word "unemployment" is translated into Japanese as 失業 (shitsugyō).
失業 refers to the state or the act of losing a job. It is combined with the word for rate (率) to form 失業率, meaning "unemployment rate". To describe a general lack of work, you can use the simple expression 仕事がない. If you are specifically talking about a lack of part-time employment, the colloquial phrase バイトがない is used.
Meaning: joblessness (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word 失業 is composed of the kanji 失, meaning "loss" or "to lose" and 業, meaning "work", "occupation" or "business". Literally, it means "loss of employment".
Which one should you use?
While 失業 refers to the act of losing a job or the state of unemployment, it is distinct from 無職, which describes the status of having no occupation or being without a job.
How does it change in a sentence?
You can create the noun meaning "currently unemployed" or "in the middle of unemployment" by adding the suffix 中 to the word to form 失業中.
How do you pronounce it?
shitsugyō
Did you know?
- The term 就職氷河期, or 'employment ice age', is used to describe the period of extreme unemployment and hiring freezes that occurred in Japan during the 1990s.
- In Japanese, the word for 'work' or 'business' used in 失業, which is 業, is the same character used in the word for 'karma' (業).
- In very casual settings, instead of using formal terms like 失業中, people might use the slang term ニート (NEET) to describe someone who is not in education, employment, or training.
Examples in context
- 失業率は高いです。The unemployment level is high.This sentence is useful for discussing the unemployment level using 失業.Tatoeba #11064018 by small_snow, translation #6942373 by AlanF_US
- 失業率は５％にまで上昇した。The unemployment rate went up to 5%.This sentence is useful for discussing the unemployment rate using 失業.Tatoeba #149607 by bunbuku, translation #264951 by Hautis
- 失業率は徐々に上昇するだろう。The unemployment rate will rise by degrees.Tatoeba #149605 by KK_kaku_, translation #264953 by shekitten
- 最近、失業者の数が増えています。Recently, the number of unemployed people has been increasing.
- 仕事がないって言ったね？大丈夫、絶対見つかるよ。You said you don't have a job, right? Don't worry, you'll definitely find one.
- 9 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing the economic news at a cafe.
- 大翔 Hiroto最近、失業者が増えているね。Saikin, shitsugyousha ga fuete iru ne.The number of unemployed people has been increasing lately.
- 陽葵 Himari本当に、景気が悪いみたい。Hontou ni, keiki ga warui mitai.Truly, it seems like the economy is bad.
- 大翔 Hiroto失業はとても怖いことだよ。Shitsugyou wa totemo kowai koto da yo.Unemployment is a very scary thing.
- 陽葵 Himariそうだね、不安になるよね。Sou da ne, fuan ni naru yo ne.You're right, it makes you feel anxious.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “unemployment” translations and entries 失業, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
