Elderly job seekers increased by 140,000, youth job seekers decreased by 100,000.
New policies are needed for the aging labor market
In Japan, the number of job seekers aged 65 or older has more than doubled in 10 years.
The Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported on the 4th that the average number of elderly (age 65 or older) job seekers from January to November 2023 was 256,000, an increase of 140,000 from 10 years ago. According to Hello Work, a public employment agency in Japan, the proportion of elderly people among all job seekers is 13%, more than double compared to 10 years ago (5%). The proportion of job seekers aged 55 or older amounts to one-third of the total.
On the other hand, the number of young job seekers aged 25 to 29 decreased by 100,000 to 196,000.
It is analyzed that this is due to changes in the labor market due to Japan’s aging population. It is known that the main purpose of the elderly’s job-seeking activities is to supplement income to earn income other than pension, and to engage in hobbies or physical activities. Currently, more than 100 elderly job seekers visit the Tokyo Hello Work Center every day.
The Japanese government is also considering ways to respond to the aging labor market. Japan is currently continuing its policy of utilizing the elderly workforce, setting 65 as the retirement age and recommending re-employment until age 70 if necessary.
However, a Hello Work official said that the number of employed people is low compared to job seekers. This is because most jobs are simple labor instead of high-demand office jobs. Last November, only 27% of all job seekers and 21% of job seekers aged 65 or older succeeded in finding a job. Hello Work plans to promote job search in various industries by holding job seminars to eliminate job prejudice.
Meanwhile, there are also views that view the increase in the elderly job seeker population positively. Nikkei said, “The supply of passionate senior talent will be an opportunity to add synergy to the overall industry.” In particular, industries such as nursing, which are experiencing a manpower shortage, are welcoming the increase in the number of elderly job seekers, including expanding the hiring of elderly people.
In Korea, problems such as poverty and alienation of the elderly due to aging are becoming more serious, and the need to prepare measures to provide jobs for the elderly population is increasing. For example, according to an announcement by the Ministry of Health and Welfare last month, there are currently about 42,000 ‘senior waste paper collectors’ in Korea. Their average age was 76 years old, and their monthly income was 159,000 won.
On the 4th, the Korean government announced that in its 2024 economic policy direction, it will provide 1.03 million jobs for the elderly this year, which is 147,000 more than last year.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.