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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
WU Xinshen, GUO Li
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DOI:10.17265/2159-5836/2026.07.008
University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
As China has entered a moderately aged society, the silver economy, including the re-employment of older adults, has attracted increasing policy attention. Japan, which has the highest level of population ageing in the world, reported that individuals aged 65 and above accounted for 29.5% of its total population in 2025. Its experience in promoting the re-employment of older adults within the framework of the silver economy therefore offers valuable insights for China. This study systematically examines the current state and underlying motivations of older adults’ re-employment in Japan, analyzes the major challenges they face, including physical decline and difficulties adapting to digital technologies, and explores the policy measures adopted by the Japanese government, particularly lifelong learning programs and the establishment of Silver Human Resource Centers (SHRCs). The findings indicate that the number of employed individuals aged 65 and above in Japan reached 9.43 million, marking the twentieth consecutive year of growth, while 84% of older adults expressed a willingness to continue working. Drawing on Japan’s experience and considering China’s national conditions, this paper proposes several policy recommendations, including strengthening institutional support for older workers, developing diversified vocational training systems, and establishing specialized employment service platforms. These measures may contribute to the development of China’s silver economy and enhance its capacity to address the challenges of population ageing.
silver economy, re-employment of older adults, Japanese experience, population ageing
Journal of Literature and Art Studies, July 2026, Vol. 16, No. 7, 631-637
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