Issue brief–Older Workers: Lessons From Japan

Working longer isone way to improve the retirement security of today’s older workers. Itincreases retirement resources while shrinking the period over whichthese resources will be needed. Working longer would also contribute toeconomic growth, allowing the nation to benefit from the knowledge andskills of older Americans. And it could potentially reduce spending onfederal programs such as Medicare and Medicaid.

As U.S. policymakers consider ways to encourage people to extend theirworklives, one place to look is Japan, the only major industrial nationwith higher labor force participation rates among older workers thanthe United States. This brief presents five reasons why the Japanese work so long.