There are concerns about the labor force needed for the future decreasing while Japan experiences a low birthrate and aging. Conditions that allow the elderly to work must be provided and an appropriate mechanism of adjusting supply and demand must operate to encourage employment of the elderly. The current study examined factors that encourage and discourage the elderly from continuing to work. Results revealed that “awareness of a sense of meaning” greatly contributed to the elderly continuing to work after retirement. This surpassed elements such as being ready to adapt to continuing to work and a sense of success in one’s current career. Fulfillment also encourage one to continue working. In addition, there is presumably a relationship between the desire to continue working and the fact that working sustains and perpetuates that sense of fulfillment.