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Over 80% of Japanese Seniors Want to Keep Working After Retirement, Citing Income, Health, and Purpose

By: MerxWire

June 26, 2025 at 07:43 AM EDT

More than 80% of Japanese seniors still wish to continue working after retirement for financial reasons, health benefits, and personal fulfillment.

Farming is one of the types of work many seniors choose after retirement. (Photo via MERXWIRE)

TOKYO, JAPAN (MERXWIRE) – As Japan enters a super-aged society, an increasing number of seniors are choosing to continue working after retirement. According to the “Senior Economic Life Survey” conducted by the Cabinet Office of Japan on 2,188 seniors over 60 years old, more than 80% of the respondents said that they would like to continue to work even when they are old, and 43.6% of them are still working, showing a strong desire to work.

The survey shows that the upper limit of the age at which respondents hope to work is 65 years old (23.7%), but 22.4% said, “As long as they can work, they will continue to work,” reflecting a positive attitude among the elderly towards work.

The primary reason for continuing to work is “for income” (55.1%), but many people also pointed out that non-economic motivations such as “work helps physical health and prevents aging” (20.1%) and “use knowledge and skills” (12.4%) are the main factors driving older people to work.

When choosing a job, the essential condition for the elderly is “being able to use their own experience and skills” (41.5%), followed by “convenient transportation to work” (33.7%) and “low physical burden” (24.8%), showing that compared with the general workplace people who focus on salary and benefits, older people pay more attention to the feasibility of physical and mental load.

The voices of actual workers also provide warmth to the data. Ms. Yumi Tanaka, a 68-year-old supermarket cashier, said: “It is a happy thing to continue working at this age. In addition to having a salary, life is more motivating. I can chat with colleagues during lunch breaks, which makes me feel more cheerful. If my health allows, I would like to keep working.”

Mr. Masao Suzuki, a 72-year-old farm worker, pointed out: “It is very satisfying to be able to touch the land every day and see the crops grow. At our age, we feel that work is like exercise, which makes us healthier and can support ourselves.”

Despite having an average of 17.69 million yen in assets, more than half of older people still believe their savings are insufficient to support their future lives, and over 30% of them are concerned about the state of the economy. Rising prices (74.5%), low income and insufficient savings (47.1%), and the cost of elderly care facilities (43.1%) are the primary concerns.

The study also highlighted that salary has a significant impact on job satisfaction, particularly for individuals who remain in the same job before retirement. However, the meaning and value of work can also enhance job satisfaction among older people, especially those who start a new job after the age of 65, who generally exhibit higher satisfaction, although their choice motivation may not be directly related to salary or work content.

The survey results highlight that Japanese society should address the dual needs of older people in employment and their lives, creating an environment that enables them to continue participating in society through friendly workplaces and comprehensive social support.

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Over 80% of Japanese Seniors Want to Keep Working After Retirement, Citing Income, Health, and Purpose

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