TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's working-age population is increasingly aging, yet many companies show reluctance to employ older individuals. This trend is evident in the declining labor force participation rate for those over 55.
Chiu-shu-fen, an elderly employee with managerial-level skills at Muji, expressed her challenges in job hunting, often facing skepticism from potential employers about her qualifications for lower-level, lower-paying jobs.
Data from the National Development Council reveals that in 2022, Taiwan had 16.3 million working-age individuals between 15 and 64 years, with 7.07 million aged 45 to 64. This group constitutes 43.3%, the highest percentage of the working-age population, and is expected to surpass 50% by 2040.
A report on employment trends for middle-aged and elderly individuals by a local job bank identified the top three sectors facing labor shortages: accommodation and catering services, wholesale and retail, and the electronics and information technology industries. Notably, these sectors' recruitment friendliness rate for older workers is below 50%.
Wu Li-sueh, a general manager at a job bank for middle-aged and elderly individuals, emphasized that overcoming outdated employment myths is crucial to addressing worker shortages. He advocates for redesigning positions and updating workplace learning to accommodate and benefit from the experience of older workers.
Wang An-chieh, a store manager at Wowprime Corp., highlighted the punctuality and strong sense of responsibility of middle-aged and elderly employees, describing them as a vital stabilizing force in the workplace.
As Taiwan approaches becoming a super-aged society by 2025, where one in every five individuals will be over 65, leveraging the senior workforce is seen as a key solution to the labor shortage, despite ongoing concerns over a declining birthrate.
Chi Yu-chen, a Elderly employee with multilingual skills at Wowprime Corp., expressed a hope for a non-discriminatory workplace towards older colleagues.