freeter

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Japanese フリーター (furītā), possibly from English free and German Arbeiter (“labourer”).

Noun

freeter (plural freeters)

1. In Japan, somebody who lacks full-time employment (excluding housewives and students), especially through lack of interest in a career.
   • 2001 October 16, James Brooke, “Young Japanese Breaking Old Salaryman's Bonds”, in The New York Times‎^[1], →ISSN:

     The average freeter lives at home, earns about $1,000 a month, and stays in a job about nine months, according to surveys conducted by the Recruit Corporation, Japan's largest job placement company. Recruit estimates that 3.4 million Japanese, aged 19 to 30, are freeters, working part time or at temporary jobs.