According to advanced age society division by the UN, aging society elderly population’s ratio when whole population’s 7%, advanced aged society passes over 14% mean. Korea has entered into the aging society and high aging society are expected in ...
According to advanced age society division by the UN, aging society elderly population’s ratio when whole population’s 7%, advanced aged society passes over 14% mean. Korea has entered into the aging society and high aging society are expected in 2016. And further average lifespan is anticipated as becoming higher because of developments of medicines and life science. So, the elderly will have longer aging periods than now, and it would require great economic burdens to them, and thus the time of having to deal with such matter socially, economically, and politically by exceeding elderly own or social responsibilities.
The issue of elderly people also has come to the fore as the core of national welfare policy which must be settled down from the aspect of socio-economy of nation, business entities, and individuals. Therefore, systematic supports as well as the conversion of recognition are necessary for the employment of elderly people.
This research was started to study the application of the increasing elderly workers due to Korea’s rapid progress into an aging society. For the research, various academic journals, books and internet materials were studied in order to look in to the phenomenon, tendency, and problems of today’s aging society. Also, a survey was conducted in order to analyze the causes behind the barriers of elderly employment.
The survey was on the barriers and requirements of elderly employment and there were additional questions regarding job finding activities of the elderly. There were also additional questions for the human resource directors about their experiences of elderly employment and its results. By combining the answers of the questions asked both to laborers and managers, the differences in their opinions regarding the awareness and barriers of employment were understood. Also, several ways for improvements were explored.
Shortage of jobs, social prejudice and lack of preparation of the elderly shared a great part of the barriers of employment. Unlike other researches, the elderly considered not only the external factors but the elderly themselves as a big problem.
The most important alternative was to bring change in the perception of the elderly and companies. A governmental program for such enlightenment and the effectiveness of promoting such programs are discussed. Moreover, the vitalization of large social enterprises that has big opportunities for providing jobs such as a job where the elderly works for elderly related jobs or a private-oriented job was suggested as the alternative for the lack of jobs which had the biggest share among the barriers for employment.
Since there is a need for the elderly to become an attractive employee to the companies, the suggestion was to let the companies to directly supervise the workers and manage the program to guarantee sustainable and effective employment instead of the ineffective educational institutions and programs that is currently provided with the government as its main agent.
In addition, governmental institutions for the elderly and their vocational training are continuously being established but most of the elderly and companies have very low awareness of such programs. Thus, the need of an active promoting program angled towards the elderly is suggested.
Finally, the problem regarding the application of elderly workers will act as a basis for further development after following several steps focused on bringing change in the perception of the government, company and the elderly themselves. There should be constant efforts of the elderly, the company should appreciate the elderly as an important work force in preparation for the future manpower shortage and the government should provide support to mediate between the elderly workers and companies.