Older workers are continuing to work past traditional retirement ages as populations the world over are greying. China is no different, especially as the first “only child” generation reach old age.
By the end of 2009, its population totalled 167 million, and with one in eight Chinese above the age of 60 now, that proportion will shift to 31% by 2050.
However, these elderly workers are not shunned in the business community. They are in fact welcomed for the experience and wisdom that they bring.
For example, in Guiyang, capital of south China’s Guizhou Province, there is high demand for skilled and healthy retirees (males above 60 and females above 55 or 50).
Over 70% of the retirees in education and medical services get re-employed, while those in architectural engineering, landscaping, and administration are also desired by private companies, said Liu Runsheng, vice chief of the city’s job market.
Older people are also sought after for their good attitude towards work, which experts have termed “glutton for work” attitude.
“Older people are more loyal to the job and demand less in return,” said Ai Jing, owner of a youth training consultancy in Guiyang.
“[Older workers also] juggled different tasks with consummate ease and never grouse about overtime work on the weekend,” added Ai.
However, the preference for the old has raised concerns among the younger generation who are already having difficulty finding jobs amongst peers. They now have to face new rivals who are as old as their grandparents.
“We’ve been calling for a complete retirement of older people; they must make rooms for the youngsters,” Pan Ping, head of the Guiyang Municipal Committee on Ageing, said.
However, Liu Changjiang, a senior reemployed engineer, said the elderly would not usurp the jobs of the young, as the two had different positions to occupy in the workplace matrix.
“We are not in a contest; on the contrary, we learn from each other, as old people have rich experience while youngsters are more versed in new technologies,” Liu said.