Workflow
异国养老
icon
Search documents
简析“走出去”养老以及护理人员短缺两大难题
Cai Jing Wang· 2025-04-15 05:55
Group 1: Aging Population in Japan - Japan has the highest aging population globally, with 36.25 million elderly people as of September 2024, accounting for 29.3% of the total population, marking a record high since 1950 [1] - By 2050, the number of elderly individuals without spouses or close relatives is projected to reach 4.48 million, representing 11.5% of the elderly population [1] Group 2: Shortage of Caregiving Workforce - Japan faces a severe shortage of caregiving personnel, with an average recruitment ratio of 1.03 across industries, while the caregiving sector averages 4.0, with some regions like Nara and Tokyo reaching 5.86 and 6.15 respectively [2] - The caregiving workforce gap is expected to reach approximately 320,000 by 2025 and 690,000 by 2040 [2] Group 3: Government Initiatives - The Japanese government has implemented various policies to attract foreign caregivers, including bilateral EPA agreements and specific visa categories for caregiving roles [3][4] - Despite these efforts, issues such as high turnover rates and cultural barriers hinder the effectiveness of these initiatives [3][4] Group 4: Challenges for Foreign Caregivers - Foreign caregivers face significant challenges, including language barriers and cultural differences, which complicate their integration into the Japanese workforce [3] - The slow wage growth in Japan's caregiving sector diminishes its attractiveness to foreign workers, leading to dissatisfaction and increased instances of workers going missing [4] Group 5: Outbound Elderly Migration - Japan has seen an increase in elderly citizens relocating to Southeast Asian countries for retirement, with around 1.31 million Japanese living abroad as of October 2022, including approximately 200,000 seniors [5] - However, the number of retirees moving abroad is minimal compared to Japan's large elderly population, making it an insufficient solution to the aging crisis [5] Group 6: Adaptation Challenges for Japanese Seniors Abroad - Japanese seniors face adaptation challenges when relocating, including climate, dietary differences, and social integration, which can lead to feelings of isolation [6][7] - The reality of living abroad may not meet the expectations of Japanese retirees, complicating their decision to move [6][7] Group 7: Overall Implications - The aging population and the shortage of caregiving resources present a significant challenge for Japan, with current strategies of attracting foreign workers or encouraging outbound migration unlikely to provide a comprehensive solution [2][5][6]