Guidelines for Skill Development for the Elderly to Suit the Nature of Work

Abstract

            This article aims to present the guidelines of the skill development for the elderly to suit the nature of work in order to reduce the working age labour shortage problem which negatively impact on the country’s social and economic development. In order to substitute the labor shortage, therefore, it is necessary to retain the elderly to be in the labor market longer by extending the years’ experience for the elderly and reinstating the elderly after their retirement. The nature of work for the elderly should be valuable and suitable for their physical condition.  The guidelines of the skill development for the elderly must manage with cooperation from 3 concerned sections as follows: government sector, private sector and the elderly.  First, the government sector should set legal measures to promote the elderly labour hiring to protect the elderly labour and to promote the elderly labour hiring.  Second, the private sector should cooperate in setting up the hiring policy and plan for the elderly and renew the hiring contract clearly.  Furthermore, the private sector should define the nature of work which is suitable for the elderly.  Third, the elderly should continuously develop their capabilities of technology, English communication skills, consistent updated knowledge learning, adaptability skills and their healthy keeping including find out their favourite hobbies to make good use of their free time, develop their other interested skills, attend social events, network or the elderly clubs in order to prepare their readiness to enter the labor market.