長者就業: 現況、挑戰與建議

Across most countries in Asia, concern for seniors is very much on protection and care, and their continuation in economic activity has never been a major emphasis in social policy. This is understandable when they are ageing. Nevertheless, as population age, increasing retirement burden to the individual and society, as well as challenge to economic growth, bring senior employment to light in recent years. Countries in the West already adopted corresponding labour and social policies. Asian countries, facing or already encountered the same problems, also adopt reforms and strategies. Nevertheless, the progress is still slow and uneven across different countries.
This paper reviews the recent trends, patterns and relavant policies of senior employment in the past decades in six selected Asian countries or societies, which are at different levels of social and economic development. In the past decades, there was no significant increase of employment rate among those aged 55 to 64, but higher rate has been recorded among those 65 and above. Compared with the OECD countries which have experienced a steady increase in the labor force participate rate, those 65 and above in these societies is relatively higher. The senior has experienced polar opposite tracks in thier employment: upward and downward. This paper suggsted that pushing and pulling factors existed at both cultural and policy levels, which explain the development of senior emplolyment in these societies.
Objectively speaking, while the seniors are ageing and productivity declining, they will withdraw from the labour market. Subjectively speaking, they will also decide when to quit at the best time. Neverthless, we can observe the changes in the culture which impacts the expectation of seniors' work. Considering the need to provide better protection for individuals and to tackle the economic problems caused by aging population, senior employment has been a necessary option that individuals and the society cannot avoid.