Crossword Genius

This year it’ll be 245 years in employment (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

usage

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'employment' is the definition.
(synonyms)

'this year it'll be 245 years' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'years' could be 'age' (synonyms) and 'age' is located in the answer.
The remaining letters 'us' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This may be the basis of clue (or it may be nonsense).

'in' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for usage that I've seen before include "Common practice" , "Habit" , "Utilisation" , "Usual practice" , "Tradition - rate of consumption" .)

I've seen this clue in The Sunday Times.
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