Addressing Manpower Shortages and Intergenerational Cooperation: Key to Post-Disaster Recovery and Sustainable Transformation in Aging Communities

The main challenge revealed by the 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake is the inability of local governments to mobilize sufficient manpower during crises. This issue stems from high infrastructure maintenance costs tied to projects from Japan’s economic boom, forcing municipalities to cut back on manpower to balance budgets. At the same time, the super-aging population has increased long-term care (LTC) costs, further straining local finances. As a result, local governments are struggling to meet the soaring demands of disaster response and recovery.

The solution to this manpower shortage requires a fundamental shift in national policy, moving from monetary-based “locality re-creation programs” to a manpower-based approach. Without addressing this shortage, local governments will remain under-equipped to handle disaster recovery, particularly in aging regions like Okunoto.

These manpower issues compound the other challenges exposed by the earthquake, particularly in Okunoto, where nearly 50% of the population is elderly. The disaster severely impacted LTC services, a crucial sector in a community where the welfare sector is the largest employer. Disrupted infrastructure and a shortage of employee housing displaced many LTC workers, raising concerns about the sector’s ability to cope with rising demands.

A potential solution is integrating LTC facilities into new housing developments, such as temporary or public housing complexes, to provide more efficient caregiving. However, this transformation requires public investment and, critically, intergenerational consensus. The elderly, attached to their remote ancestral homes, must find common ground with younger generations who favor urban living. The model “In health, it’s the village; in care, it’s the town” envisions a compact, sustainable community where support services are centralized.

In summary, resolving manpower shortages and promoting intergenerational cooperation are key to achieving long-term sustainability and resilience in Okunoto and other regions facing similar demographic and economic pressures.