What does 社会人２年目です mean?

I hear the term 社会人 a lot and it is not clear to me what it means. I look it up and often translated as “member of society.” But I do not understand the cultural implications. Does it mean they moved out of their parents and are now working? Does it imply that they are not married? Furthermore the ２年目part makes me think there’s social relevance to the amount of time someone’s been a 社会人。Could someone please explain?

Answers

Fumi_Kibikino

2 Jun 2020

Japanese

"I'm in my second year of working life." The word 社会人 might be pretty difficult for Westerners to comprehend because it is thoroughly rooted in the unique employment system of Japan.

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nanako-nanako

2 Jun 2020

Japanese

社会人 are people who have worked after graduating from school. In Japan, employment as a "new graduate" is common. After graduating from high school or university, you will become 新社会人 a new member of society. In other words, you can guess that "second year" is 20 years old for high school graduates and 24 years old for university graduates.

社会人2年目です＝it's my second year of working, which means that I'm in my second year of employment after graduation.

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Tony_D

2 Jun 2020

English (US)
Spanish (Mexico)

@Fumi_Kibikino Indeed, thank you for your insight. In the capitalistic society I live, new graduates are on their own when it comes to life after graduation so some become NEETs.

Tony_D

2 Jun 2020

English (US)
Spanish (Mexico)

@nanako-nanako Thank you for your thorough explanation! After reading your comment, It makes me think that 社会人２年目 is kind of like continuing education, after school graduation. Structurally, it is a higher rank than 大学四年生

rbep

2 Jun 2020

Japanese

@Tony_D
Hace dies años, una estadounidense dijo que la definición de 社会人 no era clara .
Yo estoy completamente de acuerdo con ella y nunca uso esa expresión.
A decir la verdad, yo no entiendo por qué muchos japoneses usan esa palabra.

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Tony_D

2 Jun 2020

English (US)
Spanish (Mexico)

@rbep En EEUU la juventud se auto elogia al ser “independent.” En otras palabras que no dependen económica de sus padres. He escuchado que en Japón los universitarios no ven la universidad como un lugar de arduo estudio. Sino, la calma antes de la tormenta. Ya habiendo entrado a la compañía de sus sueños, su carrera empieza y por ende empiezan a trabajar muy duro. Es verdad? Supongo que esa convención de 社会人 es para no revelar su profesión si no quieren?