Japan’s senior employment challenge
“As of 2022, 25.2 per cent of Japanese people aged 65 and over were employed — the second-highest rate among major economies, following South Korea’s 37.3 per cent. The United States (18.7 per cent), Canada (14.4 per cent), United Kingdom (11.3 per cent), Germany (8.9 per cent), Italy (5.3 per cent) and France (4.2 per cent) all reported significantly lower rates.”
“This expansion in senior employment may seem like a policy success. Yet a closer look reveals that many older adults are working out of necessity, not choice. The rise in senior employment is driven less by a desire to stay healthy or socially connected but more by low public pension benefits and acute labour shortages.”
“Government survey data underscore this trend. More than half of older Japanese workers cited ‘wanting income’ as their main reason for staying employed, while only 15.8 per cent reported working because they find it interesting or fulfilling. This stands in stark contrast to countries like France, Germany and Sweden, where intrinsic motivation is a more common factor.”
https://eastasiaforum.org/2025/06/26/japans-senior-employment-challenge/