A144 According to the White Paper on the National Lifestyle, Fiscal Year 2003 published by the Cabinet Office Jreeters are defined as young people-excluding students and housewives-aged berween 15 and 34 who work part-time, or for temporary staffing agencies, or who want to work. Between 1990 and 2001, their number expanded massively from 1.83 million to 4.17 million, and some 72.2% of them wanted to become full-time, permanent employees. Those preparing to start up companies or aiming for highly sought-after jobs, such as singers and actors, are not an issue. However, the increasing number of individuals who want to find full-time, permanent employment but have to continue working as Jreeters highlights the fact that a large number of young workers are finding it impossible to plan their career development.

Today, a growing number of companies are trying to quickly secure scarce staff due to the larger number of baby-boomers who started to retire in 2007, so it is hoped thatjreeterswho want full-time, permanent positions may find them. In mid-2007, government was still promoting a policy that had started in 2005, according to which each year 200,000 freeters are made regular employees.