Japan Job Changes: Update Jan. 7, 2025.

Unprecedented number of job changes predicted among Japan's middle-aged and higher for 2026

Article source:  https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20251226/p2a/00m/0bu/041000c

Ideas

Employment changes by older workers in Japan for a long time was almost unheard of as companies shield away with hiring older workers and or they felt they just weren't that valuable for a company.

But that seems to have changed a lot now with the so-called labor shortage Japanese companies finally beginning to recognize the value that older workers bring to a company.

And the hiring and leaving a company in Japan has become much easier as it used to be seen and a negative to one's career and getting a new jobs was near impossible for a very long time.

Yes companies now more open to hiring workers in their 50's and even 60's these days and many are not looking to retire anytime soon either to keep working and stay active and or because they have no choice and need to be working.

The only negative in Japan is there is for many companies a mandatory retirement age even though they might want to keep working or have to keep working.

But, that might not be a problem for small and mid-size non name-brand companies in Japan who might see older workers and being valuable and small companies might want to hire for their expertise and work skills.

That doesn't mean its easy to change jobs in Japan as some or many companies have age bias meaning they prefer younger workers and the can control them more while older workers might be seen as uncontrollable.

And then there is the idea of training new workers into the companies culture or work style but that might be changing a lot these days as companies don't see the need to train older workers that much as more might be considered self-starters and don't need to be watched or guided everyday.

Older workers already have a lot of work skills and small and mid-size companies need and they bring expertise maybe from the larger companies that small companies need and can use for their company.

Unfortunately or fortunately for older workers young workers have different ideas about work, good or not so good, and many companies in Japan, and maybe globally too, have not been able to adapt to the new mindsets of younger workers while older workers bring the needed mindsets that companies need and want so they are more than needed in Japanese companies these days.

That doesn't mean all young workers don't have the needed mindsets or can't be trained in the company's work style or culture but globally and in Japan many young workers are impatient and want a certain work-life balance that some companies might not provide.

Yes, not all older workers are looking to change jobs and many are at the so-called retirement age and because there might not be enough younger workers year-round as hiring for younger workers usually only happens in April, the beginning of the new fiscal year in Japan which means many companies have begun to hire older workers year round when they need them and not have to wait until April of the new year to get new workers.

Small and mid-size companies are the most vulnerable and if they have the resources needed to pay new older workers there there could be a gold-mine of ready made workers available to work in small and mid-size companies.

And at the same time, many of the older workers, especially those in the upper 50's to 60's range or even older might be more than willing to work for a small company and even take a pay cut to keep working and remain active.

Yes, potentially it's a whole new-world in Japan as there are multitudes of new opportunities for older workers as they still have the skills that even large companies need.

And again the challenge is, unfortunately, some or many small companies have limited resources and limited profit margins which means they might want to hire some experienced workers but just can't pay the wages that an older worker might want or need.

So yes, there seems to be more is going to be a lot of openings in Japan for older workers as the work paradigm in Japan is changing quickly and the ideas of having to retire in their 50's or 60's might become a thing of the past.

At the same time, if might be good for the Japanese economy and the social security system too in Japan as older workers will continue to work and continue to pay into the system which will be good for the economy.

And at some point maybe companies are going to get rid of the so-called retirement age and let worker works as long as they want as long as they remain productive and healthy.

Who really knows what the future will be like for older workers in Japan who want and need to keep working but its beginning to look much brighter and older workers in Japan now don't have to face the dreaded retirement crisis and potentially they can continue to work if want to or need too. 

And finally it could be a boom for small and mid-size companies in Japan, and if they have the needed resources, they have some ready-made workers who might be able to join their companies with minimal training which will help significantly with the labor shortage and labor crisis that small companies are facing now in Japan.

Have a nice day!