The policies, practices and predicaments of senior employment in Hong Kong and Singapore

2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (8) ◽  
pp. 1715-1739 ◽  
Author(s):  
PAUL HIGGINS ◽  
LINA VYAS
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Older Workers ◽  
Labour Force ◽  
Labour Force Participation ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Active Ageing ◽  
Working Lives ◽  
Official Policy ◽  
Worldwide Phenomenon ◽  
Employment Data

ABSTRACTThe ageing of populations is an unprecedented worldwide phenomenon that has created anxiety about labour and skill shortages in many developed countries. One way to address these concerns is to extend the working lives of seniors through appropriate retirement, retention and recruitment policies. This paper utilises official policy documentation and employment data to compare the policies, practices and predicaments of senior employment in Hong Kong and Singapore, two of developed Asia's most ageing economies. It finds that while labour force participation rates among Hong Kong seniors have declined since the early 1990s, older workers in Singapore remain largely confined to the secondary labour market. This paper examines why these trends are occurring and whether longer working lives will lead to greater opportunities for ‘active ageing’ in employment or, conversely, force older workers into a reserve army of labour to maintain their incomes.

The empirical landscape of extended working lives

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Debra Street
Keyword(s):  
Older Workers ◽  
Labour Force ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Labour Force Participation ◽  
Demographic Ageing ◽  
Unpaid Care ◽  
Working Lives ◽  
Dependency Ratios ◽  
Part Time ◽  
And Gender

Population-level factors associated with demographic ageing and policies intended to encourage older workers to extend working lives in Australia, Germany, Ireland, Portugal, Sweden, UK and US are documented in this chapter. Data are from international sources (mainly the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the CIA Factbook, to ensure comparability) derived from government agencies in the seven countries covered in this volume. Presenting population-level data for each country gives readers a starting point for considering how each nation compares to the others analysed in the later country chapters. Data related to demographic ageing, including patterns in longevity, proportion of national populations aged 65+, and country-specific dependency ratios are presented first. These set the stage for understanding the potential gendered implications of demands for older workers to postpone retirement and extend their working lives. Additional comparative data provided in this chapter include nation-specific patterns of women's and men's labour force participation, gender pay and gender pension gaps, typical retirement ages, and a summary of older worker's recent experiences in the labour market. Patterns of unpaid care work, time use, and full-time versus part-time employment are also compared to provide a foundation against which readers can assess the prospects for older workers in general, and the particular disadvantages faced by older women in particular, when governments demand that individuals postpone retirement and work longer.

scholarly journals Housing wealth, mortgages and Australians’ labour force participation in later life

Urban Studies ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 004209802110265
Author(s):  
Rachel Ong ◽  
Gavin A Wood ◽  
Melek Cigdem
Keyword(s):  
Household Income ◽  
House Prices ◽  
Labour Force ◽  
Housing Markets ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Labour Force Participation ◽  
Urban Housing ◽  
Housing Wealth ◽  
Working Lives ◽  
Imputed Rent

In the life cycle model of consumption and saving, homeownership is an important vehicle for horizontal redistribution. Households accumulate wealth in owner-occupied housing during working lives before benefiting from imputed rent streams in retirement. But in some countries housing wealth’s welfare role has broadened as owners increasingly use flexible mortgages to smooth consumption during working lives. One consequence is higher outstanding mortgages later in life, a burden exacerbated by high real house prices that compel home buyers to demand mortgages that are a growing multiple of their incomes. We investigate whether these developments are prompting longer working lives, an idea that is especially relevant in countries offering relatively low government pensions. Australia is one such country. We use the 2001–2017 panels of the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia Survey to estimate hazard models of exits from the Australian labour force as workers approach pensionable age. We find that those with high outstanding mortgage debts are more likely to postpone retirement, as are those with relatively low amounts of private pension wealth. These results are stronger in urban housing markets, and especially among males.

“Fuller” or “extended” working lives: a critical commentary

2014 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 237-240 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris Phillipson
Keyword(s):  
Older Workers ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Labour Force ◽  
Working Life ◽  
Critical Assessment ◽  
Older Worker ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Working Lives ◽  
Critical Commentary ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to, first, provide some background to the treatment of older workers; second, highlight the distinction between a “fuller” and an “extended” working life; third, note the importance of separating out different groups within the category “older worker”; finally, identify areas for action to suppose those now facing working into their 60s and beyond. Design/methodology/approach – Commentary paper analysing development of policies towards older workers. Findings – This paper identifies problems implementing policy of extending working and provides various areas of action to support older workers. Research limitations/implications – This paper suggests extending work unlikely to be achieved without ensuring greater security for older workers. Practical implications – Importance of developing more support for older workers. Social implications – Challenge of resolving insecurity in the labour force as an impediment to extended working. Originality/value – This paper outlines a critical assessment of current government policy towards older workers.

Policy Changes and the Labour Force Participation of Older Workers: Evidence from Six Countries

2006 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 387-400 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Cooke
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Older Workers ◽  
Population Aging ◽  
Labour Force ◽  
Labour Force Participation ◽  
The United States ◽  
Life Course Perspective ◽  
Mandatory Retirement ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Workforce Aging

ABSTRACTIn response to the anticipated pressures of population aging, national governments and supranational bodies such as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the European Union (EU) have promoted policies to encourage the labour force participation of older workers. The recent elimination of mandatory retirement in Ontario is an example of such a policy, and others include changes to national pension systems and changes to disability and employment insurance programs, active labour-market policies, and the promotion of phased or gradual retirement. This paper reviews the different policy approaches taken in the six countries included in the Workforce Aging in the New Economy (WANE) project, placing Canadian policy approaches in relation to those taken in Australia, Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States. From the life course perspective, the policy approaches discussed here do not consider the heterogeneity of older workers' life courses or the related domains of health and family. As well, the changes made thus far do not appear likely to lead to increased labour force participation by older workers, and some may leave older workers at greater risk of low income and low-wage work.

Age, labour market conditions and male suicide rates in selected countries

2003 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
PHILIP TAYLOR
Keyword(s):  
Older Workers ◽  
Labour Force ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Labour Force Participation ◽  
Unemployment Rates ◽  
Suicide Rates ◽  
Male Suicide ◽  
Younger Workers ◽  
The Usa ◽  
The Relationship

This study examined the relationship between suicide rates among men since 1975 and rates of unemployment and labour force participation in 20 countries. Previous research has found statistically significant correlations between suicide and unemployment rates over time among young people in a number of countries. This study has extended this research to include different age groups of men. The findings for younger workers largely confirm the findings of previous studies. Among older workers, however, unemployment and suicide rates are largely unrelated, notable exceptions including Japan and the USA. The implications of this finding for policy making towards older workers are discussed.

scholarly journals Active ageing policy in challenging production environments: a case study involving social partners in Spain

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariano Sánchez ◽  
Pilar Díaz
Keyword(s):  
Older Workers ◽  
Active Ageing ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Case Study Methodology ◽  
Awareness Campaigns ◽  
Working Lives ◽  
Production Environments ◽  
Social Partners ◽  
Study Methodology

AbstractIn recent years, due to population ageing, the European Union has promoted active ageing policies as a means to encourage workers to delay labour market exit. Our paper explores what active ageing means to social partners (employers, managers and workers) in Spain and also the viability of implementing an active ageing culture in organizations. We used a qualitative case study methodology to identify perceptions regarding obstacles and facilitators in the adoption of an active ageing culture in different production sectors, as well as responses to active ageing policies. Data-generating workshops were held with employees and managers of four types of companies located in the south of the country. Perceived obstacles to active ageing were more organizational than individual in nature. Some of these obstacles gave rise to a kind of forced active ageing in a context in which the previous predominant message had been to retire as early as possible. Job adaptation was perceived as both an obstacle and a facilitator. Increasing recognition of older workers and raising their motivation to extend their working lives were found to be important pending tasks. In contexts of high unemployment, active ageing often remains largely unknown within productive organizations, and the idea of retiring as soon as possible continues to guide many workers. In these circumstances, the implementation of top-down, uniform active ageing policies has proven to be of limited efficacy. Awareness campaigns and initiatives aimed at improving older workers’ health and abilities should be launched as complementary active ageing strategies.

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