Millions of Japanese Over 35 Still Live With Mom and Dad

[GennGreymane]

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...th-mom-and-dad

In some of Asia's biggest economies, young adults are living longer with their parents as they struggle to strike out on their own.

The aging of Japanese and South Korean societies, and the significant slowdown in their economic growth rates, are contributing to a large increase in households with elderly parents supporting adult children who haven’t been able to leave home. In some cases, it’s even forcing parents to delay retirement.

The stubbornly high youth unemployment rate is seen as a big part of the problem in Korea. This is less of an issue for Japan, where the rise of part-time and contract employment, which often comes with low pay and little security, is a major contributor. In both cases, the opportunities for high school and college graduates to secure steady jobs in offices or on factory floors is not what it was for their parents.

In Japan, more than 3 million singles aged 35 to 44 still live with their parents, according to a government study. Some 620,000 are either unemployed, have stopped looking for work or only work on and off.

"In many cases, they gave up trying after failing to land a job for three or four years," said Fumihiko Nishi, a researcher at the Statistical Research and Training Institute. "Almost all of them probably have no income." Once they get into their mid thirties, it gets harder to change their life course and many end up living on their parents’ income and pensions, Nishi said.

Almost one in two people aged 20 to 34 in Japan were single and living with their parents, according to data for 2012 cited by Nishi. That’s more than 10 million people. While this ratio has risen, this category has been shrinking as the total population in the age group has declined.

In Korea, which appears to be traveling down the same demographic road as Japan, the ratio of households with unmarried children aged 25 or above jumped to 26 percent in 2010, from just 9 percent in 1985, according to a report by the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs.

The report referred to this growing group as a “kangaroo tribe,” who depend on their parents while college graduation, employment and marriage all get delayed.

A separate survey from the institute showed that the average cost for parents supporting their adult children was 740,000 won ($630) a month.

In both nations, these trends have coincided with parents working to a later age, whether it be to save more for their own retirement or to keep supporting their dependent children.

South Korea has seen the number of workers aged 60 or above steadily rise, while for people in their twenties there has been little change. The number of workers aged 60 or above was 4.1 million in the third quarter, compared with 3.8 million for those aged 20-29, data by statistics office show.

Japan has seen a steep increase in older workers, especially in the last five years.

There’s also a risk that elderly parents working longer to support dependent children creates a "vicious cycle" that reduces the number of job opportunities for new workers, according to economists at Standard Chartered in Seoul.

South Korea’s jobless rate for those aged 15-29 was 8.5 percent in October, more than twice the 3.4 percent for the overall population.

Official data for much of the rest of Asia is hard to get. There are no comparable numbers available for China, the Philippines and Malaysia for example. It's also the case that in parts of Asia, including China, extended families living together is a cultural norm.

In Hong Kong, home to some of the world's priciest real estate, about 53 percent of males and almost 47 percent of females aged between 15 and 34 lived with their parents in 2015. Around 29 percent of young adults in Australia live with their parents, according to the 2011 census, up from 21 percent in 1976.

Some 97 percent of unmarried people aged 15 to 34 lived with their parents in Singapore, as of 2013, according to the statistics bureau. For married people it was 37 percent.

In Indonesia, a predominantly Muslim country where young adults generally stay at home until they are married, 67 percent of people aged 16 to 30 lived with their extended family, although not necessarily with their parents, according to official data from 2015. About 1.5 percent of Indonesians in that age group lived alone.

A survey by CBRE Group Inc. found that almost two thirds of Asia-Pacific millennials (young adults aged between 22 and 29) are still living at home and 18 percent have no plans to move out at all with unaffordable real estate cited as the common factor. Hong Kong and India have the highest proportion of millennials still living at home, according to CBRE who surveyed 5,000 millennials aged between 22 and 29 in Australia, China, Hong Kong, Japan and India.

It's not like Asians don't want to own their own home. Some 65 percent of those surveyed want to buy their own property, according to the CBRE report.

While the region may boast the world's fastest economic growth, that's little comfort for young adults who can't afford to leave the nest.

[Belize]

Japan building an army of wizards confirmed. Who needs Nuclear weapons when you have that much power.

[Underverse]

Interesting.

I'm a little confused as to why the age ranges often start at 15. When I was 15, I didn't have a job; I was in school. I feel like this manipulation of statistics makes it look worse than it actually is. I would like to see numbers for the post-university age group; employment before that is less important.

[minteK917]

This is not a new trend and its not limited to asian countries. A huge chunk of canadian population lives with their parents well into their 30s. Unlike the boomers the cost of living is ridiculously high and the pay never really went up. A minimal wage job now is barelly 5 can more an hour than my mother used to make with no high school diploma, yet the same kind of housing she had is 1000% more expansive now.

This is just a sign that the current model is no longer appropriate.

[ImpTaimer]

Another garbage bloomberg article projecting unrealistic liberal standards.

Moving out is and always will be a luxury that depends solely on population and economy.

Overpopulation = no moving out.

Bad economy = no moving out.

It's plain pathetic how idiots keep trying to paint Japan in bad light because they want excuses to jump into their economy and culture to destroy it. Japan does not give a shit because they know it's propaganda.

"Oh no Japan birth rates are down! Better introduce immigrants even though the country is already overpopulated!"

"Oh no the (foreign fabricated) bubble might pop, better introduce foreign business even though their economy is just fine!"

The backbone that keeps the US running is generations of family-owned farms/businesses, not the flakes who move all over the place to make a quick buck.

[RyanEX]

Another garbage bloomberg article projecting unrealistic liberal standards.

Moving out is and always will be a luxury that depends solely on population and economy.

Overpopulation = no moving out.

Bad economy = no moving out.

It's plain pathetic how idiots keep trying to paint Japan in bad light because they want excuses to jump into their economy and culture to destroy it. Japan does not give a shit because they know it's propaganda.

"Oh no Japan birth rates are down! Better introduce immigrants even though the country is already overpopulated!"

"Oh no the (foreign fabricated) bubble might pop, better introduce foreign business even though their economy is just fine!"

The backbone that keeps the US running is generations of family-owned farms/businesses, not the flakes who move all over the place to make a quick buck.

Pretty much this. Bloomberg should've mentioned just how many Japanese there are on a group of islands that barely make up the size of California. And not much of that land is actually liveable on.

[Mistame]

We could solve their overpopulation and failure of males to participate in one fell swoop: Send the wiminz to me.

[Yvaelle]

Japan has been a canary in the coal mine for the social struggles of modern progress for a couple decades now.

The economic struggles that the Japanese (and South Koreans) face, is exacerbated by the forces of high population density, high median income, and being a complete economy.

Japan has only the 38th highest population density in the world, but all of the countries above it are either tiny island nations in the Caribbean or South Pacific with limited landmass, and far lower median income (while being complete economies). Or 'countries' with higher population density and similar median income, but aren't complete economies - by which I mean city-states that exist within larger national economies: Singapore within Indonesia, Hong Kong & Macau within China.

The only other 'real' country that has a comparable status to Japan, is Israel - a tiny country with a colossal population, and relatively high median income.

So really - if you want to see the likely social effects of modern progress about a decade ahead of today - look to those two countries.

Sometimes it's pretty damned alarming.

Israel demonstrates how a multicultural society can potentially polarize around ethnic or ideological or religious factions - and seasonally blow up when the pressure inevitably rises. A troubling forecast for the rest of the developed world of how quickly ideological differences can divide a nation when the stess is high (due to economic and political, not just ideological factors!) - and we demonize the 'other' as the font of all our woes.

Japan has quite a homogeneous population - so the same ethnic tension and villainizing the 'other' doesn't occur to quite the same degree: though a sort national elitism is no stranger to the Japanese worldview - which is a similar reaction to what we're seeing all over the developed world (nowhere worse, perhaps, than Israel). Japan's harbinger for the perils of progress centre around the economic effects. Rising wealth inequality has risen all over the world, and Japan is no exception - despite being one of the richest countries on the planet, within a population just over a third the size of the US - purchasing power in Japan per household is only about 70% of what it is in America (and America's no pacesetter of socialist redistribution).

By rights, the Japanese should probably be wealthier per person than the average American - but they're well ahead (a decade or more) on the long-term effects of rising wealth inequality - so what you are seeing there is an indication of what's to come to the rest of the developed world: countries with unprecedented wealth, but shared only by a dwindling few. The societal impacts of falling median income are exemplified here - with an inability for young Japanese to buy property and start families of their own. It's also visible in the societal impact of the workaholic culture in Japan: work so hard you have no life, don't bother commuting home - sleep under your desk, hang out with your boss after hours, etc.

The other negative factor that contributes to these societal effects, which Japan is also ahead of the curve on - is longevity. While longer lifespans are largely a great thing for everyone - it's also resulted in Japans aging population. Longer lifespans have also resulted in longer working lifespans, because increased lifespan has improved quality of life - not just age at time of death. This means that the old workforce retires later, rises higher in organizations, leaves no room for younger Japanese to enter higher position, creates no room at the bottom to pull new employees up the corporate hierarchy - creates no room at the bottom for new employment, new entrants, etc.

So progress definitely has perils - I think sometimes it's easy for people to see me and Connal get nerdy about all the utopian benefits the future could hold in store - but probably the most important thing to remember about utopias is that - every utopian setting began with a dystopian transition. We're excited for the future, and we're right to be - but the 21st century is the Dystopian Era that will precede the Utopian future (22nd century, or 23rd century).

[minteK917]

Another garbage bloomberg article projecting unrealistic liberal standards.

Moving out is and always will be a luxury that depends solely on population and economy.

Overpopulation = no moving out.

Bad economy = no moving out.

It's plain pathetic how idiots keep trying to paint Japan in bad light because they want excuses to jump into their economy and culture to destroy it. Japan does not give a shit because they know it's propaganda.

"Oh no Japan birth rates are down! Better introduce immigrants even though the country is already overpopulated!"

"Oh no the (foreign fabricated) bubble might pop, better introduce foreign business even though their economy is just fine!"

The backbone that keeps the US running is generations of family-owned farms/businesses, not the flakes who move all over the place to make a quick buck.

I think most of those reactions are more like knee jerk fixes. Immigration is just a medium term band aid. Eventually The immigrants have the same situation as the natives and dont pop 5-6 childrens anymore. The only real fix is appropriate internal economic changes. Thats on country basis. I know in mine the situation is to the point were minimal wage is barelly more than welfare, how is that even a choice. Its not even because welfare is generous you can only live in a single room on it lol.

[TwoNineMarine]

All this does is show how the worlds banks are really fucking things up.

Inflation is through the roof all over the world and people can't leave home.

[Strangebrew]

Another garbage bloomberg article projecting unrealistic liberal standards.

Moving out is and always will be a luxury that depends solely on population and economy.

Overpopulation = no moving out.

Bad economy = no moving out.

It's plain pathetic how idiots keep trying to paint Japan in bad light because they want excuses to jump into their economy and culture to destroy it. Japan does not give a shit because they know it's propaganda.

"Oh no Japan birth rates are down! Better introduce immigrants even though the country is already overpopulated!"

"Oh no the (foreign fabricated) bubble might pop, better introduce foreign business even though their economy is just fine!"

The backbone that keeps the US running is generations of family-owned farms/businesses, not the flakes who move all over the place to make a quick buck.

This so fucking much.

[Tennis]

What's wrong with that?
Why are people so quick to judge others?

It's their life and if they're happy, healthy, fit and contributing to society then this is what matters.

[Calfredd]

What's wrong with that?
Why are people so quick to judge others?

It's their life and if they're happy, healthy, fit and contributing to society then this is what matters.

You of all people on these forums has no room to talk.

[Jester Joe]

What's wrong with that?
Why are people so quick to judge others?

It's their life and if they're happy, healthy, fit and contributing to society then this is what matters.

You can't really cherrypick what's okay and what isn't okay. Especially if this really is coming down to an issue of being unable to afford it.

[Tennis]

You can't really cherrypick what's okay and what isn't okay. Especially if this really is coming down to an issue of being unable to afford it.

It sucks that they can't afford their own place but at least their family structure is strong and the parents are there for the kid and vice versa.

[serenka]

This is not a new trend and its not limited to asian countries. A huge chunk of canadian population lives with their parents well into their 30s. Unlike the boomers the cost of living is ridiculously high and the pay never really went up. A minimal wage job now is barelly 5 can more an hour than my mother used to make with no high school diploma, yet the same kind of housing she had is 1000% more expansive now.

This is just a sign that the current model is no longer appropriate.

yep, its sad when the older members of my family tell me how much they bought their houses for when they were in their mid to late 20s

[Nitro Fun]

It sucks that they can't afford their own place but at least their family structure is strong and the parents are there for the kid and vice versa.

Many can afford their own place if there were any at a reasonable cost.

[Jester Joe]

It sucks that they can't afford their own place but at least their family structure is strong and the parents are there for the kid and vice versa.

And if something happens to the parent?

The kid is left screwed over. It's just not ideal.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying to shame them or something for not having a place of their own, I just feel as if it's not something that should be just glanced over if there are issues.

[minteK917]

What's wrong with that?
Why are people so quick to judge others?

It's their life and if they're happy, healthy, fit and contributing to society then this is what matters.

You realize their polling also reveal that most of them would want to move, its simply not possible. As imptaimer said, its not a cultural problem, its an economical one. You live in Canada, we also have that problem in Canada, just less extreme because we have a much smaller population and a bigger territory. Except our wages dont keep up with our market tied to the USA. Houses price in Canada more than trippled in my own life time depending on locations. Minimal salary in most provinces only went up 3 bucks an hour at most. Thats not out of happiness, its out of need that people arent moving out.

Hell my mother bought an house right around the time i moved out when i was 22, that was only 10 years ago. She paid 120k for an house south of montreal, the only cash she put in it was 10k to fix the roof 5 years after buying. Her house would now sell for 330k. The minimal wage only went up 1.50$ in the meantime. My mother kind of half planned this, but it was mostly so we can sell it once she dies, she never expected to be able to gather that much possible networth in such little time. At this rate the house will sell for million before she dies lol.

[Deleted]

I have read about the situation in Japan before concerning this, and as others have pointed out it is very much an economical problem where wages and living price have gone in almost two completely different directions. Which is concerning if it happens to us other nations, because it does have impact on society as a whole, especially with delayed marriage/partnership and kids; two things that really can't be understated how important they actually are for a flourishing society.