English version - Fit for Work Europe

1. Executive summary
6
The
‘Fit for Work?’
project
The Impact of
MSDs on the
Japanese
workforce
Japan is already facing the challenge of an older – and less healthy – working age population.
The growing number of those out of work due to old age or disability is placing additional
physical and emotional strain on working individuals. It is estimated that by 2035 over 30 per
cent of the population will be consuming 70 per cent of total medical expenses.
It is clear that the growing investment in the health care system cannot match the growing
rate of dependency of the Japanese population. This is why Japan must prioritise prolonging
individuals’ ability to remain in work and contribute to the society.
While much is done to react to the impact of cardiovascular conditions and cancer, as well as to
tackle the rapid rise in the prevalence of mental health issues, a vast burden of chronic diseases
with low mortality rates remains unseen. The long-term impact of Musculoskeletal disorders
(MSDs) receives little attention in Japan.
This project has looked in some detail at the impact that MSDs have had on the working lives
of millions of Japanese individuals. It has examined the adequacy of the treatment and support
workers receive, their experiences at work, the effect of their condition on their family and
colleagues, and the human and financial costs involved. Specifically, we have looked at back
pain, work-related upper limb disorders (WRULDs) – two groups of conditions which are usually
characterised by non-specific and short episodes of pain and incapacity – and rheumatoid
arthritis (RA) and spondyloarthropathy (SpA), specific conditions that are often progressive and
increasingly incapacitating. We conducted a review of the recent academic and practitioner
research on the relationship between these MSDs and labour market participation, and
conducted interviews with acknowledged experts in this field.
MSDs have a significant impact on people’s ability to work; not only on an individual but an
aggregate basis. Together, they affect the productivity and labour market participation of
thousands of Japanese workers. Evidence suggests that:
• Among a total of 87.9 million Japanese people aged 30 years or older in 2005, 21.4
million (24.3 per cent), 3.2 million (3.7 per cent), and 9.1 million (10.4 per cent) were
estimated to have low back, hip, and knee pains, respectively. The prevalence rates
of low back, hip, and knee pains will gradually increase in subsequent years, reaching
26.5 per cent, 4.4 per cent, and 12.9 per cent, respectively by 2055;
• MSDs present the Japanese economy and society with a burden of up to JPY 2 trillion a
year (7.5 per cent of national medical expenditure) just in the direct medical costs;
• About JPY 231.2 billion each year are lost due to work incapacity resulting from pain.
Fit For Work? Musculoskeletal Disorders and the Japanese Labour Market