Japan and South Korea take various measures to help the elderly find employment

Against the backdrop of an increasingly serious aging population, Japan and South Korea have taken various measures to help the elderly find employment.

In Japan, the government has formulated the "Law on Stable Employment for the Elderly" and launched a number of measures. For example, subsidies are provided to enterprises that employ the elderly. According to the measure content and the increase in the retirement age, subsidies ranging from 150,000 to 1.6 million yen are given to enterprises. Consultation meetings are also held for elderly people without job opportunities, special consultation windows are set up, and the role of the silver-haired talent dispatch center is brought into play to provide local elderly people with jobs such as child care, cleaning, and cooking. As of 2022, there are 1,340 such centers across Japan, and there are a large number of registered elderly people. In addition, there are different forms of training institutions in various places to ensure that elderly people who are willing to work can get employment opportunities.

South Korea is also taking active actions. The government's budget for the health and welfare of the elderly is continuously increasing, especially the budget for elderly jobs is growing significantly. In July last year, South Korea released the "Third Comprehensive Plan for Supporting the Employment and Social Activities of the Elderly". It is planned that by 2027, more than 10% of the elderly population will be provided with jobs, and social service and private jobs will be expanded to more than 40% of all elderly jobs. In October of the same year, the South Korean National Assembly passed the "Law on Supporting the Employment and Social Activities of the Elderly", which includes providing information consultation on employment and social activities, and providing financial support to enterprises that employ a certain number or more of the elderly.

Data shows that the proportion of the elderly population over 65 years old in Japan is continuously increasing. It is expected to increase to 30% in 2025 and reach 39% in 2050. In South Korea, the proportion of the population aged 60 and above in July also reached 27.8%. The silver-haired people in Japan and South Korea have a high willingness to work. A report by the Cabinet Office of Japan in 2021 shows that among people over 60 years old in Japan, the proportion of those who "want to continue working" is the highest. The proportion of elderly employed and entrepreneurial populations in South Korea this year also reached a record high.

Through these measures, Japan and South Korea not only meet the employment needs of the elderly, allowing them to obtain economic income, but also help ease the pressure of social pension. They give full play to the value of the elderly and contribute to the economic and social development of the country. It is a new attempt to offset the negative economic impact of an aging population and promote sustainable economic development. However, in the implementation process, some challenges may also be faced, such as job suitability and health protection for the elderly, which need continuous exploration and improvement.