世論 What Japan Thinks

[part 1] [part 2]

Following up on the earlier survey on the Baby Boom generation, this time MacroMill interviewed 515 members of their online monitor group who are part of the Baby Boom generation, that is born between 1947 and 1949. All 515 were male, currently working for public or private employers.

It’s interesting to note in Q2 that most people are working because of financial issues, and barely one in fifty feels able to live comfortably off their nest egg.

I’d love to have seen a more direct question to the effect of “Do you want to spend more time with your family?” as the impression one gets of the baby boom generation is that they have a Calvanistic work attitude (although Q2A doesn’t back this up), or at least have spent so long being a company man they don’t know how to be anything else.

In addition, given another recent survey I translated which had a question on the new divorce law regarding pensions (see Q8), perhaps asking how many worried about their wife divorcing for half their pension would have been interesting.

Research results

Q1: Do you think you’d like to continue to work after reaching statutory retirement age? (Sample size=515)

Think I want to work (to SQs)	57.1%
Don’t want to, but plan to (to SQs)	27.8%
Don’t want to	15.1%

Q1SQ1: Have you decided where you will work after reaching statutory retirement age? (Sample size=437)

Already decided	22.2%
Not decided, but have prospects	31.6%
Currently searching	12.6%
Not searching	33.6%

Q1SQ2: Would you want to continue working for the same employer after reaching statutory retirement age? (Sample size=437)

Yes	61.6%
No	38.4%

Q1SQ3: What sort of working pattern would you like to have after reaching statutory retirement age? (Sample size=437)

Full-time position similar to current position	45.8%
Similar work-day length, but less days per week	20.8%
Reduce both working hours and number of days per week	15.1%
Similar number of days per week, but shorter work-day	14.0%
Work from home	3.7%
Other	0.7%

Q2A: Why do you want to continue working after reaching statutory retirement age? (Sample size=437, multiple answer)

Because of financial issues I need to work	70.3%
For health (Mental or physical?)	47.4%
Because I want to keep in contact with society	41.6%
Because I want to exercise my financial or intellectual ability	33.2%
Because I’ve free time	13.7%
Because I want to contribute to society	12.6%
Because work is the meaning of life	8.7%
Other	1.6%

Q2B: Why do you not want to continue working after reaching statutory retirement age? (Sample size=78, multiple answer)

Because I want to use my time in my own way	71.8%
Because time with family is important	41.0%
Because I want to do things other than work	35.9%
Because I just don’t want to work any more	33.3%
Because I’ve contributed enough to society	20.5%
Because my body’s not up to it	16.7%
Because I’m financially sound	14.1%
Other	0.0%

Q3: How much of an impact would your retirement have on the company you work for? (Sample size=515)

Big impact (to SQ)	3.7%
Some impact (to SQ)	36.5%
Almost no impact	57.1%
Don’t know	2.7%

Q3SQ: What sort of impact would your retirement have on the company you work for? (Sample size=207, multiple answer)

Knowledge-related problems – no-one to pass on know-how, techniques, etc	71.5%
Company-external problems – customer communication worsening, etc	26.6%
Company-internal problems – internal communication worsening, etc	25.6%
Sales problems – sales drop, etc	14.0%
Other	1.0%

[part 1] [part 2]