Introduction
How would you like to spend your life after retirement? Are there any of you who feel anxious about being ‘left behind in the IT age’? There are also likely to be many older people who are thinking, ‘I’d like to earn a bit of extra money from home after I retire’.
So, are you wondering whether you, as a middle-aged or older adult, should take up programming? You may feel that it is difficult to learn on your own. However, it is actually entirely possible. In this article, we’ll explain specific ways for middle-aged and older adults to earn an income from home.
By the time you’ve finished reading this article, you should know what your first step should be. We’ll explain the technical details carefully, using language that even beginners can understand, so please make the most of this guide.
Section 1: An Overview of Digital Learning for Middle-Aged and Older Adults and the Keys to Success
For middle-aged and older people looking to earn an income from home, it is not simply a matter of learning a programming language. What is more important is understanding the ‘big picture’ of digital learning. Contrary to what many people believe, simply writing code is not enough.
Why is IT literacy essential?
There is one fact you should be aware of first. When middle-aged and older people learn to code, the initial hurdle lies in a ‘lack of basic IT knowledge’. To give a specific example:
- How to switch between full-width and half-width characters
- Instructions for downloading files
- How to Troubleshoot Code Errors
Without these basic skills, you will struggle even if you learn an advanced programming language. It is essential to acquire this ‘IT literacy’ before you even begin learning to programme. It is just like how ‘to become a better cook, you first need to know about ingredients’.
The need to grasp the overall picture of the field of learning
The key areas of digital learning are summarised below:
● IT literacy (basic skills)
– Basic use of a PC
– How to use the Internet
● Programming Languages
– HTML/CSS (website creation)
– VBA (Excel automation)
– JavaScript
● Monetisation methods │
– Online advertising management
– Affiliate marketing
– Crowdsourcing
Unless you understand this overall picture, you will lose your way whilst learning and end up giving up. It is important to understand where what you are learning fits into the bigger picture.
Section 2: Specific Learning Pathways and Practical Methods
So, how exactly should one go about learning? Here, I will explain two approaches: ‘profit-oriented’ and ‘fulfilment-oriented’.
[A] Focus on revenue: Taking on work from others is the quickest route
Rather than building a service from scratch, taking on work from others is the quickest way to earn an income. In the current market, there is particularly high demand for the automation of routine business processes. Specifically:
- Data entry for vouchers, invoices and similar documents
- Improving Operational Efficiency through Macros
- Data entry for vouchers, invoices and similar documents
These types of work can be secured via crowdsourcing sites and similar platforms. As you gain experience, you may eventually look to secure consultancy contracts with small and medium-sized enterprises. This is a field where the strengths of experienced middle-aged and older professionals can be utilised to the full.
[B] Focus on fulfilment: Start with a personal media platform
When combining your hobbies or interests with digital technology, aiming to develop an app right from the start can be quite a challenge. The following is recommended as a more realistic approach:
1. Setting up a website or blog
- It is more efficient to use a tool called WordPress
- Start by using tools rather than learning from HTML and CSS
2. Prioritise attracting customers
- Ad revenue from Google AdSense
- Income from affiliate advertising
3. Aiming for recurring revenue
- Even if it’s just a few yen to start with, gaining experience from scratch builds confidence
Real-life case studies: The paths to success
Here, we will draw on the practical examples of three middle-aged and older people.
Case 1: Mr Mamoru Saito (aged 62) → Secured a contract for website development
After retiring from a major manufacturer, I looked for work I could do from home and enrolled in a programming school. Having learnt coding skills under the guidance of professional instructors, I am now taking on web development projects via crowdsourcing platforms. Gaining a real understanding of ‘how actual websites are built’ was a major turning point for me.
Case 2: Mr Koji Onozawa (aged 56) → Managing his own website
When he set up his own business, he realised he needed a website, so he enrolled in a programming course. He saved 1 million yen in initial costs and ran the site himself. He learnt the basics, such as ‘website tabs and coding tags’. He emphasises the importance of ‘a sincere willingness to learn from young people’.
Case 3: Satoshi Sugiyama (aged 54) → Development of rehabilitation equipment for care homes
Whilst working as an occupational therapist, he began learning to programme. He developed an exercise support system for older people using a fitness bike. ‘There have even been cases where people who were confined to a wheelchair have been able to walk again.’ He emphasises the importance of having the skills to communicate effectively with professional engineers.
Section 3: Key Points to Note and the Mindset for Success
There are a number of key points you need to understand about the world of digital learning. Here, we explain ‘tips to avoid failure’ and ‘additional specialist information’.
1. You must be prepared to set aside your pride
For middle-aged and older people, the biggest barrier to learning is pride. Accepting the idea of ‘being taught by a younger instructor’ and ‘starting from scratch as a complete beginner’ is the first step towards success. Mr Saito emphasises the importance of attending a training course in order to learn what is considered ‘common knowledge’ in the IT industry. It is precisely this humble attitude that acts as a catalyst for growth.
2. Skills are acquired by field
| Scope of Work | Essential Skills | Recommended Skills |
|---|---|---|
| Data entry | Basic PC Operations | VBA Macros |
| Accounting Administration | Work experience | Excel features |
| Web Management | WordPress | Google Ads Management |
As such, it is more efficient to identify and learn the skills required for each specific task. Rather than trying to learn every language from scratch, it is important to prioritise your learning according to your objectives.
3. Taking on work from others is the first step
Many middle-aged and older people aim to ‘develop their own apps’ or ‘set up their own business’, but the reality is that the path to generating income is a long one. The tried-and-tested approach is to start by taking on work for others, thereby building up a track record whilst improving your skills.
4. Creating a service that is ‘niche but meets a need’
When seeking to monetise a hobby, the following two points are important:
- Focus on a niche area where there is demand (for example, in tennis, ‘how older people can improve their game’)
- Refining our original content
Experience gained at relevant training institutions and contributions to online magazines will also count as achievements and lead to further development in areas such as app development in the future.
Note: You don’t need to learn every single programming language.
Whilst there are many programming languages—such as HTML, CSS, VBA and JavaScript—there is no need to learn them all from scratch. It is more efficient to choose a language suited to a specific purpose and learn additional languages as and when required. If you adopt the mindset of ‘only the skills you need’, it is entirely feasible even for beginners. Furthermore, generative AI is now taking on the task of writing programmes. What is required of humans is new ideas and creativity. In this respect, too, the perspective of experienced middle-aged and older professionals is valuable.
Summary
Social participation amongst middle-aged and older people, and career development after retirement, have significance that goes beyond simply ‘acquiring IT skills’. In fact, it reflects the reality that ‘it is becoming increasingly difficult to function in modern society without digital literacy’, whilst at the same time offering the hope that ‘learning is possible regardless of age’.
The most important insight is that ‘combining your own experience and knowledge with digital skills is your greatest asset’. If you have experience in accounting, this will give you an advantage in data entry roles; if you have a hobby, you can see a path from sharing information in that field to generating income.
The essence of success lies not in ‘writing perfect code’, but in ‘finding value in creating services and solving problems’. Whether it is Mr Saito’s web service for care services, Mr Onozawa’s English training website, or the rehabilitation device developed by Mr Sugiyama, they all stem from ‘the ability to collaborate with engineers to solve the problems one wishes to tackle’.
Learning to programme is not merely a form of vocational training. It gives the life experience and social knowledge possessed by middle-aged and older people a digital boost, opening up new possibilities for creating value. Viewing the IT era not as something that leaves them behind, but as an opportunity to showcase their strengths, leads not only to earning an income from home but also to making a contribution to society.
Let’s start small. It could be anything—from data entry via crowdsourcing to setting up a WordPress blog. The important thing is simply to take that ‘first step’. That will be the first step towards building a career that allows you to continue working after retirement.
