Businesses to recruit middle-aged and senior workers to help with the labor shortage issue

A study on employment trends for middle-aged and older adults was recently produced by the human resources platform, which also hosted a "Middle-aged and Senior-Friendly Business Forum". Although it was noted that businesses are now 1.66 times more eager to hire people who are middle-aged and older than they were four years ago—a "moderately high" level of willingness—it does not follow that this is the case. In terms of work, it is crucial to rethink the existing approaches in order to carry out the agreement reached with older citizens and successfully address the combined challenges of a shrinking birthrate and a job deficit.

Businesses to recruit middle-aged and senior workers to help with the labor shortage issue.Photo provided by human resources platform

Taiwan will soon become a "super-aged society" in 2025, predicts the human resources platform report. The percentage of the senior population over 65 will be more than 20% by that time. Furthermore, the three main industries that are now experiencing the greatest labor shortage are those that provide lodging, catering, and services. Even if some employers say "Welcome to middle-aged and older people" when hiring, in industries where labor is in short supply, there is still room for improvement in the real "recruitment friendliness rate ranking" for middle-aged and older workers. The friendliness rates are less than 50%, particularly for lodging, catering, and wholesalers.

Businesses to recruit middle-aged and senior workers to help with the labor shortage issue.Photo provided by the Executive Yuan

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According to the general manager of the Middle-aged human resources platform, sectors facing a labor shortage might not be aware that middle-aged workers constitute a diversified pool of labor or know how to effectively utilize them. The general manager thinks the burden of labor shortages can be lessened if there are suitable and cordial recruitment techniques.

Therefore, human resources platform conducted an analysis through the "Employment Trend Report for the Middle-aged and Elderly" to determine that, while looking for work, middle-aged and senior individuals prioritize job location and that, as they get older, the importance of job content and compensation levels also shifts. The value of work with accommodating conditions for middle-aged and senior workers differs from the conventional notion, and it merits consideration by businesses when implementing aspects of a welcoming workplace.