Readiness towards working beyond retirement age in public sector: Are we there yet?
List of Authors
  • Ahmad Feruz Izharuddin , Mahazir Ismail

Keyword
  • Aging population, older workers, workforce aging, return to employment

Abstract
  • With aging population and the need for high productivity, the role of workforce in organizations is critical to ensure a continuous economic growth. The workforce is at stake as the younger generation is getting smaller while the older generation continues to leave the employment after serving the retirement age limit, leaving a gap in the productive output along with the increase of population life expectancy as indicated by World Health Organization. As older people live longer and healthier, this makes them available to participate the workforce after employment as the retirees will later has an idling yet productive years that is wasted by staying unemployed. The worldwide on-going trend of returning to employment after retirement (or unretirement) seems to be the solution to this shortfall. Equipped and advantaged with invaluable experience, knowledge, skill, and wisdom gathered throughout lifelong learning and working years, the readiness of these retirees needs to be evaluated prior to rejoining the workforce as presumably, they are physically and mentally reduced after passing productive years. This study investigates through a qualitative study using thematic analysis on the readiness of Government retirees to return to the employment after serving the mandatory retirement age in respect of the population aging and maintaining workforce. Four (4) emerged themes were identified that helps to explain what it takes for retirees to unretire.

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