Japan’s silver generation shrugs off retirement, with four in ten keen to keep earning past 65

ISTANBUL, June 13 — Nearly 40 per cent of older adults in Japan want to remain in paid employment after the age of 65, with financial necessity emerging as the leading motivation, according to a government white paper on the country’s ageing society released on Friday, Anadolu Ajansi reported.

The survey found that 39.7 per cent of Japanese respondents aged 65 and above wished to continue working for pay. The figure was considerably higher than results recorded in comparable surveys conducted last year in the US, Germany and Sweden, according to the paper uploaded on a government website.

In the US, around 24 per cent of respondents in the same age group said they wanted to keep working, while the proportion stood at roughly 19 per cent in both Germany and Sweden, highlighting Japan’s distinct demographic and economic realities.

According to the white paper, the most frequently cited reason among Japanese seniors for seeking continued employment was the need to earn income. Other respondents said work helped them maintain their health, remain socially engaged and slow the effects of ageing.

The findings come as Japan grapples with the challenges of a rapidly ageing population and a shrinking workforce. The country has one of the world’s highest proportions of elderly citizens, increasing pressure on pension systems, healthcare services and labour markets.

Older workers have become an increasingly important source of labour in recent years as employers seek ways to address persistent worker shortages across a range of industries.

The survey’s findings have also renewed debate over retirement security and employment opportunities for seniors, suggesting that for many older Japanese, remaining in the workforce is driven not only by personal fulfilment but also by economic necessity, said the white paper. — Bernama-Anadolu