自衛官採用、計画の５１％　過去最低、８月に人材確保策―防衛省

　防衛省は８日、２０２３年度の自衛官採用人数が陸海空３自衛隊で計９９５９人だったと公表した。１万９５９８人の募集計画に対し、達成率は過去最低の５１％（前年度比１５ポイント減）に落ち込んだ。同省は同日、「人的基盤の抜本的強化に関する検討委員会」の初会合を開き、８月までに人材確保策を取りまとめる方針を確認した。
　計画達成率の最低はこれまで１９９３年度の５６％だった。２３年度の採用の内訳を見ると、部隊の基幹となる原則終身雇用制の「一般曹候補生」の達成率は前年度比１９ポイント減の６９％。任期制の「自衛官候補生」は同１３ポイント減の３０％で、ともに１０、０７年度の制度創設以来最低だった。
　防衛省は日本社会の少子化が背景にあると分析。組織内でのハラスメントの実態が明るみに出たことも影響した可能性がある。（2024/07/08-11:24）

The number of Japanese Self-Defense Forces personnel hired in fiscal 2023 totaled 9,959, only 51 pct of the Defense Ministry's target, the ministry announced Monday.
   The share of SDF personnel recruited fell by 15 percentage points from the preceding year to hit the lowest level ever. The previous record low was 56 pct, marked in fiscal 1993.
   The ministry planned to recruit a total of 19,598 personnel for the Ground, Maritime and Air SDFs in fiscal 2023, which ended in March.
   The recruitment rate dropped by 19 points to 69 pct for general personnel serving as core SDF members under a permanent job contract system in principle, and by 13 points to 30 pct for fixed-term contract personnel. Both rates marked record lows since the permanent and fixed-term job contract systems were introduced, in fiscal 2010 and fiscal 2007, respectively.
   The latest results may reflect the country's low birthrate, which has led to its youth population declining. Harassment cases revealed at the SDF are another likely contributor.