The 9th JILPT Tokyo Comparative Labor Policy Seminar 2026
Youth Employment and Labor Policy
According to the ILO's "Global Employment Trends for - Youth 2024 ", youth employment is improving as the economy recovers from the coronavirus pandemic. The youth unemployment rate in Asia and the Pacific was 13.9% in 2023, falling below the five-year average prior to the COVID-19 crisis, which was 14.3%. However, regional disparities are large; while improving in South Asia, the youth unemployment rate in East Asia has reached a record high of 14.5%, and other regions have not recovered to pre-pandemic levels.
Looking at the employment situation of young people in the Asia-Pacific region, the proportion of non-regular employment is increasing. Many young people are employed in precarious, low-paying jobs, and many are forced to engage in informal employment. Youth's access to education has increased in general, increasing the supply of educated young people, while many young people are unable to find employment after education. One in five young people (20.4%) have NEET status. While digitalization is progressing rapidly, such as the development of AI technology, and the importance of vocational training is increasing, it has also been pointed out that there is a mismatch between the required skills and education and employment. Building a society in which young people who will lead the next generation can work while gaining experience and improving their vocational skills in stable employment has become an important issue.
This seminar will share information and knowledge on the current employment situation of young people in each country and region, the support for transitioning from education to employment, and the measures to create and support employment for young people. We will also discuss future issues and potential solutions.
Reports presented at the seminar will be published in our online journal Japan Labor Issues in autumn 2026.
Date of the Event
March 26, 2026
Seminar Theme
Youth Employment and Labor Policy
Discussion Points
- Current status of youth employment
- Employment of young people from the perspective of macro statistics (ratio of the young working-age population, youth unemployment/employment rate, average length of service, etc., cross-tabulation with educational background, if any.)
- Quality of youth employment (regular/non-regular/informal employment)
- Recruitment status of young people, ratio of NEET.
- Laws, regulations, and policies related to youth employment
- Employment contract for young people
- Age of employment
- Special measures for labor standards and occupational health and safety
- Minimum wage
- Support for transitioning from education to occupation
- Typical transition patterns from education to career
- Career education and career guidance
- Apprenticeship system
- Internship
- Job creation and employment support measures
- Job creation policies for young people (incentives for employers, exemption from social insurance premiums, wage subsidies, etc.)
- Vocational education and training for young people, employment support policies (main body of support)
- Initiatives to integrate NEETs into the labor market
Program (PDF:308KB)
Opening Ceremony & Keynote Lectures
Opening ceremony
- Opening Remarks
FUJIMURA Hiroyuki, President, The Japan Institute for Labour Policy and Training (JILPT)
- Keynote Lecture (Recorded)
Jean-Michel SERVAIS, President, International Society for Labour and Social Security Law (ISLSSL)
Session 1: Research Presentations
Chair: ARAKI Takashi, Chairperson, Central Labor Relations Commission
- Presentation 1 [Japan]
"Current State and Challenges of Youth Employment in Japan" (PDF:646KB)
Presentation (PDF:896KB)
IWAWAKI Chihiro, Senior Researcher, JILPT- Discussant: OGURO Megumi, Researcher, JILPT
- Presentation 2 [Korea]
"A Tug-of-War?: Current Policy Issues Surrounding Youth Employment in South Korea" (PDF:212KB)
Presentation (PDF:1.93MB)
MUN Junhyeok, Assistant Professor, Sungshin Women’s University- Discussant: HIHARA Yukie, Associate Professor, The University of Tokyo
- Presentation 3 [China]
"Youth Employment in China: Current Status, Policy System, and Optimization Paths" (PDF:513KB)
Presentation (PDF:961KB)
FAN Wei, Professor, Capital University of Economics and Business- Discussant: ZHONG Qi, Vice Senior Researcher, JILPT
- Presentation 4 [Taiwan]
"Youth Employment Policy in Taiwan: Current Challenges and Institutional Responses" (PDF:196KB)
Presentation (PDF:1.39MB)
HUANG Johsiang, Assistant Professor, National Tsing Hua University- Discussant: NISHIDA Reiko, Junior Researcher, Waseda University
Session 2: Research Presentations
Chair: MORITO Hideyuki, Professor, Keio University
- Presentation 5 [Australia]
"Junior Wage Rates in Context: An Ecosystem Approach to Youth Employment in Australia" (PDF:212KB)
Presentation (PDF:1.75MB)
Bree BOOTH, Lawyer- Discussant: ARIIZUMI Akira, Research Associate, The University of Tokyo
- Presentation 6 [Thailand]
"Youth Employment in Thailand: Current Landscape and Pathways to Greater Inclusion" (PDF:208KB)
Presentation (PDF:615KB)
Panthip PRUKSACHOLAVIT, Associate Professor, Chulalongkorn University- Discussant: KAMEDA Koji, Associate Professor, Kokushikan University
- Presentation 7 [Philippines]
"Youth Employment in the Philippines: Challenges, Opportunities, and Policy Implications " (PDF:280KB)
Presentation (PDF:325KB)
Ronahlee A. ASUNCION, Professor, University of the Philippines Diliman- Discussant: LIANG MinMin, Graduate Student, The University of Tokyo
- Presentation 8 [Malaysia]
"Youth Employment in Malaysia – Evaluating Legal and Policy Developments in an Evolving Labour Landscape " (PDF:540KB)
Presentation (PDF:852KB)
Ashreyna Kaur BHATIA, Associate, Skrine Advocates & solicitors- Discussant: ISHIGURO Shun, Lecturer, The University of Tokyo
- Presentation 9 [Indonesia]
"Indonesia's Youth Employment Landscape: The Urgent Need of Comprehensive Legal Framework to Address Current Challenges" (PDF:530KB)
Presentation (PDF:1.41MB)
Ike FARIDA, Founder and Managing Partner, Farida Law Office- Discussant: KATAYAMA Yuta, Graduate Student, The University of Tokyo
Concluding Session
Chair: KANKI Chikako, Professor, The University of Tokyo
Seminar program uploaded on April 9, 2026
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