From High School to Work in Japan: Lessons for the United States?

Youth employment problems have received considerable public and scholarly attention in the United States in recent years. A chief concern is the worsening situation of high school‐educated youth versus their college‐educated counterparts in terms of wages, turnover rates, and unemployment. Japan has been cited as an example of a country that demonstrates how high school‐employer linkages can facilitate the successful and stable transition from high school to work. This article explains this system of linkages and critically evaluates its operation and results.