Intergenerational Employment: enhancing older workers’ labour market integration

Intergenerational Employment: enhancing older workers’ labour market integration  ILO

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Jul 26, 2024 - 10:30
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Intergenerational Employment: enhancing older workers’ labour market integration

Intergenerational Employment: enhancing older workers’ labour market integration

The Urgency to Support Labour Market Transitions for Older Workers

The urgency to support labour market transitions for older workers is increasing in both developed and emerging countries. An aging workforce, combined with low birth rates, intensifies labour shortages and pressures pension systems. While high-income countries are currently most affected by ageing societies, emerging countries are also beginning to face these challenges. Developing ageing-responsive public employment services (PES) and active labour market policies (ALMPs) can significantly improve the employment of older workers, enhance labour supply, and contribute to more sustainable pension systems. These initiatives can also promote intergenerational solidarity, allowing younger workers to benefit from the skills and experience of their older counterparts.

Objectives

With support from the Ministry of Labour of the Republic of Korea, this project aims to enhance the knowledge and capacity of governments, employers, and workers’ organizations globally to develop effective labour market initiatives that address the challenges of aging societies. The project will also assist selected countries in creating and implementing these initiatives.

Key activities include:

  • Conducting a multi-country study on ALMPs for older workers.
  • Creating a global, online repository of ALMPs.
  • Developing a guide and tools for the formulation and implementation of integrated ALMPs.
  • Building the capacity of selected countries to develop and implement integrated ALMP packages.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  • Target 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value.
  • Indicator 8.5.1: Average hourly earnings of female and male employees, by occupation, age group, and persons with disabilities.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

  • Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic or other status.
  • Indicator 10.2.1: Proportion of people living below 50 percent of median income, by age, sex, and persons with disabilities.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

  • Target 16.7: Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory, and representative decision-making at all levels.
  • Indicator 16.7.1: Proportions of positions (by sex, age, persons with disabilities, and population groups) in public institutions (national and local legislatures, public service, and judiciary) compared to national distributions.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  • Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private, and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships.
  • Indicator 17.17.1: Amount of United States dollars committed to public-private and civil society partnerships.

Explanation:

The article discusses the urgent need to support labour market transitions for older workers, which is connected to SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth. The aging workforce and low birth rates mentioned in the article contribute to labour shortages and pressures on pension systems, which align with Target 8.5 of achieving full and productive employment and decent work for all. The article also highlights the importance of intergenerational solidarity, which promotes the social and economic inclusion of all, irrespective of age, aligning with SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities and its Target 10.2. Additionally, the project mentioned in the article aims to enhance the knowledge and capacity of governments, employers, and workers’ organizations, which relates to SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions and its Target 16.7 of ensuring responsive and inclusive decision-making. Lastly, the project’s objective of creating partnerships and the development of a global online repository align with SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals and its Target 17.17 of promoting effective public-private and civil society partnerships.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

SDGs Targets Indicators
SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth Target 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value. Indicator 8.5.1: Average hourly earnings of female and male employees, by occupation, age group, and persons with disabilities.
SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic or other status. Indicator 10.2.1: Proportion of people living below 50 percent of median income, by age, sex, and persons with disabilities.
SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions Target 16.7: Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory, and representative decision-making at all levels. Indicator 16.7.1: Proportions of positions (by sex, age, persons with disabilities, and population groups) in public institutions (national and local legislatures, public service, and judiciary) compared to national distributions.
SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private, and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships. Indicator 17.17.1: Amount of United States dollars committed to public-private and civil society partnerships.

Source: ilo.org