pisco_log
banner

Employment Status and Future Prospects of Older Workers from the Perspective of Active Aging

Jiru Cai

Abstract


From the perspective of active aging, this paper focuses on the employment issues of older workers in China, clarifies the definition
scope of older workers by combining the demographic background of China entering a deep aging stage in 2024 and the relevant delayed retirement policies in 2025. It sorts out the different academic viewpoints on work-related injury identification and the nature of employment legal relations of older workers, and analyzes their employment status featuring obvious group stratification (migrant workers as the main body
of the grassroots group with weak competitiveness), concentration in low-threshold and high-intensity industries with informal employment
models, and great difficulties in safeguarding rights due to the lack of exclusive channels. In view of the many shortcomings in the protection
of older workers' rights and interests at present, the paper proposes that the future efforts should focus on improving the risk-sharing mechanism such as work-related injury insurance, building an age-appropriate protection system covering multi-dimensional rights and interests,
promoting the implementation of the relevant draft regulations, and establishing a national unified protection system and an inter-departmental
supervision mechanism. By doing so, we can consolidate the institutional foundation for protecting the rights and interests of older workers
and facilitate the implementation of the national strategy for actively responding to population aging.

Keywords


Active Aging; Older Workers; Development of Elderly Labor Force

Full Text:

PDF

Included Database


References


[1] China News Service. National Bureau of Statistics: China's population aged over 60 exceeds 300 million for the first time in 2024[EB/

OL]. (2025-01-17)[2025-11-17].https://laoling.cctv.com/2025/01/17/ARTI1YQU2WRMlO75bKSmmyLY250117.shtml.

[2] China News Service. National Health Commission: It is estimated that around 2035, the national population aged 60 and above will exceed 400 million[EB/OL]. (2022-09-20)[2025-11-17].https://news.cctv.com/2022/09/20/ARTInjejQDvmMaZi5jzTPHYT220920.shtml.

[3] Ai Lin. Protection of the Employment Rights and Interests of the Elderly under the Background of Active Aging: Theoretical Basis and

Institutional Design[J]. Journal of the Party School of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (National Academy of

Governance), 2024, 28(06):127-136.

[4] Xue Changli. Protection of the Employment Rights of Older Workers under the Background of Progressive Delaying the Legal Retirement Age[J]. Population Research, 2025, 49(05):52-61.

[5] Xu Xinxing, Zhang Xiaojian, Yang Ruya. How Can Older Workers Better Achieve "Adequate Protection for Work"?[N]. Workers' Daily,

2026-01-23(005).

[6] Song Shi, Chu Jinlong. Can Work-related Injuries of Older Workers be Identified as Such?[J]. People's Judicature, 2007(04):71-73.

[7] Ding Guangyu. Identification of the Nature of the Employment Legal Relationship of Older Workers[J]. Academic Journal of

Zhongzhou, 2008(03):74-78.

[8] Tan Tan. A Study on the Re-employment Legal Relationship of Older Workers[J]. Modern Economic Information, 2016(12):291-

292+295.

[9] Hu Xiaodong. A Study on the Protection of Labor Rights and Interests of Older Workers[J]. Journal of Beijing Vocational College of Labour and Social Security, 2025, 19(04):10-15.

[10] Li Youcheng. Identification of the Labor Subject Qualification of Older Workers and Protection of Their Rights and Interests[J]. Journal

of Handan University, 2021, 31(03):124-128.

[11] He Yan, Yin Guowei. A Study on the Employment and Labor Rights Protection of Older Workers in Huzhou City[J]. Journal of Huzhou

University, 2018, 40(07):86-91+100.

[12] Yao Lanxiu. On the Employment Relationship of Older Workers - An Analysis of the Re-employment Legal Relationship of Older

Workers[J]. Journal of China Institute of Industrial Relations, 2009, 23(04):30-34.

[13] Zou Aihua, Huang Guan. Interest Measurement and Rule Restructuring for the Protection of Older Workers[J]. Journal of Wenzhou University (Social Science Edition), 2024, 37(05):17-27.

[14] Ouyang Aihui, Mao Zhihui. A Discussion on the Definition of the Labor Legal Relationship of Older Workers - Based on the Analysis of

a Labor Dispute Case[J]. Jiangnan Tribune, 2021(06):47-49.

[15] Lu Qian, huan Qing. Dilemmas and Solutions for the Protection of Older Workers' Rights and Interests - From the Perspective of Active

Aging[J]. Special Zone Economy, 2024(06):38-41.

[16] Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security of the People's Republic of China. Notice of the Ministry of Human Resources and

Social Security on Soliciting Public Comments on the Interim Provisions on the Protection of the Basic Rights and Interests of Older

Workers (Draft for Public Comment)[EB/OL]. (2025-07-31)[2026-01-02].http://114.255.111.180/SYrlzyhshbzb/zcfg/SYzhengqiuyijian/

zq_fgs/202507/t20250731_551592.html.




DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.70711/rcha.v4i5.9727

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.