少子高齢化社会の課題と展望

One of the most serious challenges Japan faces is its falling birthrate and aging population.

With falling birthrates and rising life expectancy, the share of older people in the population keeps climbing, and by 2040 roughly one in three citizens is projected to be 65 or older.

This shift cannot but affect every area of society.

First, social security systems such as pensions, healthcare, and nursing care face a structural problem: the working generation that supports them is shrinking while the elderly who are supported are increasing.

Many experts hold that maintaining the current system will inevitably require considering higher premiums or a review of benefits.

Second, the shortage of labor is also severe.

Industries short of workers are accepting foreign laborers and rehiring older employees, but that alone will not solve the problem.

Labor-saving through technology and gains in productivity must be pursued at the same time.

A change in mindset is also essential: rather than seeing older people only as those being supported, we should treat them as valuable talent with rich experience and knowledge and widen the arenas where they can be active.

On the other hand, although measures against the falling birthrate, such as financial support for child-rearing households and expanded childcare facilities, have been pursued, the birthrate has not recovered.

This is because behind young people’s hesitation to marry and have children lie complex, intertwined factors such as unstable employment and the burden of education costs.

Unless we build a society where people can work while raising children with peace of mind, no fundamental improvement can be expected.

A low-birthrate, aging society is not a problem that can be solved overnight, but now more than ever society as a whole must pool its wisdom and build sustainable systems.