Redesigning Late‐Life Employment in Japan

Japan is experiencing unprecedented population aging, with adults' aged 65 years and older accounting for nearly 30% of its total population. In this context, employment has attracted increasing attention as an important form of social participation in later life. However, despite increased labor force participation among older adults, suitable employment opportunities remain limited. Moreover, Japan is simultaneously facing a serious workforce shortage in the long‐term care sector, raising concerns about care system sustainability in super‐aging societies. This review aims to not only provide an overview of later‐life employment in Japan but also introduce the older assistant care worker model as a concrete and socially acceptable form of older adults' employment in long‐term care settings. Drawing on nationwide surveys of geriatric health service facilities in Japan, this review examines how older adults' involvement in non‐professional, peripheral tasks can generate multidimensional benefits. The findings indicate that the older assistant care worker model—adopted across prefectures—reflects its practical feasibility and social acceptance within geriatric health service facilities. For older assistant care workers, employment was associated with perceived health maintenance, meaningful use of time, and enhanced social participation and social connection, which, in turn, were associated with lower emotional exhaustion. For care staff, the presence of older assistant care workers was related to reduced workload and lower burnout risk. Overall, the older assistant care worker model represents an age‐friendly employment approach that benefits older adults, care staff, and care facilities, potentially contributing to sustainable long‐term care systems in aging societies.

Aging in the American workforce · Economic shortage · Health care · Older people · Population · Population ageing · Social care · Workforce · Workload · Geriatric Care and Nursing Homes · Intergenerational Family Dynamics and Caregiving · Retirement, Disability, and Employment

• Successful Aging

  John W Rowe, Robert L Kahn•The Gerontologist•1997

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