Elderly workers fill Japan’s labor void
TOKYO, JAPAN — Japanese firms are increasingly hiring elderly workers to address the country’s labor shortage. Last year, 40% of companies employed individuals over 70 years old, doubling from a decade earlier.
In construction and retail, those 65 and older represent over 10% of employees.
Emiko Kumagai, 81, working at Nojima, remarked, “I feel more confident after a day’s work.” Nojima, having removed its retirement age in 2021, employs 30 individuals aged 70 or older.
In 2022, 39% of businesses aimed to hire those aged 70 and above, marking significant growth over ten years.
The weakened yen has complicated foreign hiring. However, this shift towards older workers brings safety challenges due to increased accident risk.
Accidents involving workers aged 60 and above surged 26% in 2022 to 38,000 incidents.
Takashi Sakamoto, an analyst at Recruit Works Institute, recommends the adoption of automation to ease physical demands on older employees.
“Companies must invest in automatization and other means to make work less physically demanding for the elderly,” he stated.
Analyst Takashi Sakamoto recommends firms adopt automation to ease physical demands on older employees. As the elderly workforce expands, addressing their stagnant wages is crucial to fostering a supportive work environment.
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