抄録
Spreading casualization into teaching, nearly a quarter of the teachers in lower secondary
schools in Japan currently work on fixed-term employment contracts. Previous studies pointed
out that the casualization of teachers in Japan is due to the operation of labor demand side
(governments and school board system), and thus, some research raised an alarm about the severe
working conditions of fixed-term teachers. However, we should not overlook the fact that
despite the unstable contracts, fixed-term fulltime teachers’ job satisfaction is comparable with
permanent teachers. Hence, it could be inappropriate to regard fixed-term teachers merely as
vulnerable employees. We should take not only the logic of the labor demand side but also the
situation of the labor supply side into consideration. Therefore, this study examines the structural
factors that influence the job satisfaction of fixed-term fulltime teachers compared to permanent
teachers. Specifically, referring to previous studies, I focus on two major factors, namely
“relationship with colleagues” and “relationship with students.” I use multilevel analysis
with the raw data of the Teaching and Learning International Survey 2018 (TALIS 2018).
First, in terms of individual characteristics (age, gender), only the twenties dummy variable
significantly affected fixed-term teachers. This may be related to the presence of a segment
of mid-career women who proactively choose to be fixed-term teachers. Second, divided by
age group, the casual teachers experienced an alienation from colleagues, but relationship with
colleagues was not part of the structure decreasing or increasing job satisfaction. Third, the
significant factors were similar to those of the permanent teachers, and the paramount factor
was relationship with the students. These findings indicate the necessity to consider fixed-term
fulltime teachers with the scope of not a monolithic entity but an entity that includes internal
variety. Moreover, it is also important for fixed-term teachers to not “be on fixed-term contracts”
but “be a teacher.” Accordingly, to reveal the mechanism of casualization, we should
consider the labor supply side perspective and view fixed-term teachers in the light of “being a
teacher.”