[Post-Retirement Awareness Among People in Their 40s and 50s] About 1 in 2 Responded 'I Would Like to Start a Business If the Risk Is Low.' Retirement Is No Longer an 'Exit' but a Time for a 'Restart' Outside the Organization.

Happy Cars Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Kamakura City, Kanagawa Prefecture; Representative Director: Chiharu Shimbutsu) conducted a survey on 'Work Styles and Entrepreneurship/Independence After Retirement' targeting company employees in their 40s and 50s.

In today's era, often called the '100-year life,' the future work styles and career choices after retirement are extremely important themes for the middle generation in their 40s and 50s.

Many people are likely considering starting a business or becoming independent after retirement due to anxieties about retirement funds and salary ceilings.

Therefore, Happy Cars Co., Ltd. (https://happycars.jp/), a car buying specialist, conducted this survey.

Survey Overview: Awareness survey on 'Work Styles and Entrepreneurship/Independence After Retirement for People in Their 40s and 50s'

[Survey Period] Friday, April 24, 2026 – Monday, April 27, 2026

[Survey Method] Internet survey via PRIZMA (https://www.prizma-link.com/press)

[Number of Respondents] 1,025 people

[Survey Target] Monitors who identified as company employees in their 40s and 50s at the time of the survey

[Survey Sponsor] Happy Cars Co., Ltd.

[Monitor Provider] Sacrisa

'Want to continue working at current company' is the most common post-retirement work style.

First, when asked about their current primary thoughts on post-retirement work styles, 'I want to continue working at my current company (using re-employment systems, etc.)' was the most common response at 27.5%, followed by 'Haven't thought about it yet' (21.8%) and 'I want to change jobs or find new employment at another company' (14.6%).

While about 30% have a 'stability-oriented' desire to continue employment at their current company, a similar proportion lack a concrete vision.

Next, regarding their current state of preparation for retirement funds, the most common response was 'I am saving/investing, but I am anxious because I haven't reached my target amount' (41.6%), followed by 'I want to take measures, but I can't afford to save/invest with my current income' (27.8%) and 'I can prepare sufficiently with my current savings/investments or retirement allowance' (18.1%).

The survey revealed that about 70% are either taking measures or want to take measures for retirement funds but are not doing enough. This lack of financial leeway may not only make future asset building difficult but also narrow down post-retirement work options.

With such financial anxieties lingering, what trends are seen in the ideal timing for retirement?

When asked about the 'ideal timing for retirement (complete withdrawal from work),' the responses were as follows:

'Age 60 (want to retire at the same time as the general retirement age)' (27.6%)

'Age 65 (at the timing of starting to receive pension)' (38.8%)

'Age 70 or older (until a milestone like re-employment, or as long as I am physically able to work)' (22.2%)

'Lifelong active (want to stay involved with society through a job I love, regardless of age)' (11.4%)

About 60% consider age 65, the standard for starting pension benefits, or age 60, the standard retirement age, as a milestone. On the other hand, a certain number desire to work until 70 or older or remain active for life, suggesting a diversification of values that emphasize social connections and purpose in life, in addition to economic reasons.

So, with the prospect of working longer, how do people perceive career risks?

When asked about 'the thing they most want to avoid when considering their future career and life,' the most common response was 'Suddenly being laid off or having salary cut due to company performance deterioration' (25.2%), followed by 'Continuing to suffer stress at my current company due to unfair evaluations or human relationships' (21.3%) and 'Continuing to work at my current company without a salary increase' (16.2%).

This reveals a vague anxiety about unexpected income reduction or job loss, as well as a reluctance to continue working without satisfaction with company evaluations or salary.

Motivations of people in their 40s and 50s realistically considering entrepreneurship and the 'funding wall'

From here, the survey focused on those who responded 'I want to start a business or become independent' regarding their post-retirement work style.

When asked 'When did you start thinking about starting a business or becoming independent?', the most common response was 'From the early 40s (ages 40-44)' (39.4%), followed by 'From the late 40s (ages 45-49)' (29.4%) and 'From before age 30' (16.5%).

About 60% begin to consider entrepreneurship or independence in their 40s, suggesting this is an age when awareness shifts towards a self-reliant work style independent of the company, in anticipation of age-related career changes.

Next, regarding the 'trigger for starting to think about entrepreneurship/independence,' the most common response was 'Because I felt anxious about the company's future or my own career path' (45.9%), followed by 'Because I wanted to utilize my own skills and experience' (44.0%) and 'Because I wanted to work freely with my own discretion' (36.7%).

While some people want to start a business or become independent out of positive motivation, such as wanting to test the skills cultivated through their work experience or work on their own terms, negative factors like anxiety about the company's future or their own work style were also highly ranked.

So, what is the maximum amount they are willing to invest as initial capital for starting a business?

When asked about the 'maximum amount they absolutely do not want to exceed as an initial investment (preparation fund) when starting a business or becoming independent,' the responses were as follows:

'Less than 1 million yen (I want to spend as little as possible)' (12.8%)

'1 million to less than 2 million yen' (15.6%)

'2 million to less than 3 million yen' (30.3%)

'3 million to less than 5 million yen' (18.4%)

'5 million yen or more (I am prepared for a certain level of risk)' (22.9%)

Regarding initial costs for starting a business, the most common response was considering 2 million to less than 3 million yen as the upper limit, followed by those willing to accept 5 million yen or more. This suggests a tendency to want to take on challenges within a realistic range while accepting a certain degree of self-investment and risk.

On the other hand, a certain number of people want to keep initial costs as low as possible, indicating a cautious attitude towards finances despite an interest in starting a business.

When asked about 'anxieties and hurdles in starting a business/becoming independent,' the most common response was 'Financial anxiety (initial investment, living expenses, etc.)' (49.5%), followed by 'Fear or risk of failure' (48.6%) and 'Anxiety about whether my skills and experience will be applicable in a new field' (39.5%).

Many people cited 'financial anxiety,' indicating that financial concerns are a psychological and physical barrier.

Furthermore, the fear of failure due to a lack of expertise in business continuity is also a factor preventing people from taking the first step towards entrepreneurship or independence.

Overall, the survey revealed that while there is motivation for entrepreneurship and independence, multiple anxieties related to funding, future prospects, and self-actualization coexist.