Figure 30 Awareness of Elderly People and Their Social Participation

(1) Type of people associated with on a daily basis

Source: Cabinet Office "Awareness survey among elderly people of social participation" (2003)

Notes: 1) The central metropolitan city area refers to the special ward of Tokyo and cabinet-order designated cities (12 major cities).

Neighboring cities are those with populations over 100,000, excluding these 12 major cities.

2) Target elderly group are those over 60.

3) Colleagues at work also include former colleagues.

Table 31 Purpose of Community/business Participation (percent distribution)

Purpose of participation	Percent distribution
Elderly care and life support (including food delivery)	26.4
Accessible actions and life support for disabled people	9.5
Nature and environmental protection, streetscaping, recycling	8.9
Child welfare and education	7.3
Promotion of social education, including cultural activities and lifelong learning	6.3
International cooperation, protection of human rights, gender equality, promotion of peace	3.9
Promotion of local shopping streets, community renovation, tourist activities	3.6
Supporting social participation and local communication activities	2.6
Sports circle activities	2.4
Health promotion (including fitness sports gyms)	2.0
Restaurants	2.0
Medical and health consultancy, medical related services such as nursing care	2.0
Intermediary service support	1.6
Vocational development, supporting upskilling	1.6
Safety activity, disaster relief	0.8
Production and sales of local agricultural, forestry, and fisheries products	0.7
Consumer protection	0.6
Production and sales of processed products of local agricultural, forestry, and fisheries products	0.3
Other services	7.6
Production and sales of others	7.4
No response	2.4

Source: Mitsubishi Research Institute, Inc. "Survey on Participatory Style of Business and Community Activities" (Study commissioned by MHLW, 2004)

Table 32 Workforce Trends in the Agricultural, Forestry, and Fisheries Sectors

1. Changes in new agricultural workers (members of existing farming household) (Unit: person)

Category	2000	2001	2002	2003
Number of new agricultural workers	77,100	79,500	79,800	80,200
Of the above, those between 15 and 34	9,300	9,100	9,200	9,100

Source: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan (MAFF)

"Survey on Agricultural Structure and Movement"

Notes: The figures show the number of those who have recently joined the "mainly agriculture" work category in the past year from the "payroll work" or "student" work groups, two years before the survey.

2. Changes in new agricultural workers, excluding existing agricultural households (Unit: person)

Category	1999	2000	2001
Total number	460	460	530
New college graduates	96	78	104
Voluntary unemployed now	364	382	426
Agricultural workers
Under 40	188	197	201
Between 40 and 59	143	163	185
60 and Over	33	22	40

Source: calculated by MHLW based on MAFF's "Collected Information on Newcomers to Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries"

3. Number employed in the agriculture, forestry, and fisheries industries	(Unit: person)
Category	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003
Number of persons employed in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries industries	8,612	8,547	10,438	11,215	12,702

Source: MHLW "Report on Employment Service"