The Aging Workforce: A Growing Reality in India
The aging workforce is becoming a significant feature of the global labor market, with projections indicating that older workers will represent a substantial portion of the workforce in the coming years. This demographic shift presents both challenges and opportunities for organizations across various industries. Key challenges include health and wellness concerns, potential technology and skill gaps, and the need for effective succession planning.
However, older employees bring valuable experience, institutional knowledge, and diverse perspectives that can enhance innovation and organizational performance. Shifting strategies, from recruitment to empowering and retaining, is essential for organizational growth. With the average Indian now just 24 years old, and over half the population under 25, industrialists and policymakers often highlight India’s demographic dividend. Yet, alongside this optimistic outlook, there is another reality—older workers and their concerns that tend to be overlooked.
While multinational corporations (MNCs) claim to be equal opportunity employers welcoming diversity, the reality in India is different. Companies, especially MNCs, focus on attracting young workers, often sidelining older employees. For MNCs facing an aging and more expensive workforce in their home countries, India offers a pool of younger recruits. The aging population in India is no longer a distant concern—it is a growing reality with profound economic and social implications.
By 2050, nearly 20% of India’s population will be over 60, challenging traditional workforce structures and retirement norms. The concept of a fixed retirement age is gradually losing its relevance. Increasing life expectancy, albeit with a gap between overall lifespan and healthy lifespan, necessitates a re-evaluation of work and ageing.
The United Nations’ Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021–2030) emphasizes the importance of maintaining functional mobility and achieving personal goals. Employment plays a vital role in this, providing financial stability, purpose, and social engagement. However, India presents a dual reality when it comes to aging and work in the formal sector. Structured retirement policies ensure pensions and welfare benefits but often overlook the contributions of older workers. Many retire not out of necessity but due to rigid policies, despite possessing valuable experience and institutional knowledge. This is a loss for both individuals and organizations.
On the other hand, the informal sector, which employs a significant portion of India’s elderly, allows workforce reentry but often under precarious conditions—low wages, lack of job security, and minimal benefits. The disparity between these sectors highlights the urgent need for structured policies that facilitate flexible and meaningful work for older adults.
India’s population is set to age rapidly in the coming decades, with the proportion of those over 60 expected to double by 2050, according to the UN Population Fund. This is not unique to India; many countries in the West and Asia, like Japan, are facing similar implications of a rapidly aging population.
The old age dividend refers to the potential economic and social benefits of an aging society, particularly if elderly individuals can remain active and engaged in economic, social, and familial roles. The issue of elderly health is a critical parameter in determining how long individuals can remain productive. While some extend their careers out of financial necessity, others choose to work for personal fulfillment and social connectivity.
Various studies confirm that working in later years improves cognitive health and emotional well-being, reducing the risks associated with social isolation and depression. However, without supportive policies, many older workers struggle to navigate a job market that favors youth and technological adaptability over experience. To address these challenges, India must rethink its workforce policies. Employers should embrace phased retirement plans, flexible work arrangements, and re-skilling programs tailored for older workers. Age-inclusive hiring practices must replace outdated biases that view aging as a liability rather than a valuable asset.
Intergenerational workplaces can benefit from the stability, commitment, and mentorship abilities of older employees, fostering a culture of collaboration and knowledge transfer. Aging workforce is not a burden but an opportunity. Harnessing its potential requires systemic changes that prioritize dignity, inclusion, and economic productivity.
As India stands on the brink of a demographic shift, it must ensure that longer lives translate into healthier, more meaningful, and economically secure years. If done right, an aging workforce can be a strength, not a challenge or burden. The recent extension of the Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme to include coverage for the elderly marks a significant step in India’s efforts to address the needs of its aging population.
However, we must view this as just the beginning of a larger conversation about achieving the ‘silver dividend’—the potential opportunities and challenges associated with an aging society. As global demographics shift, the aging workforce is becoming a central focus for employers and policymakers. The proportion of older individuals in the labor market is growing rapidly, primarily driven by increased life expectancy, delayed retirements, and declining birth rates.
In the U.S., for example, workers aged 55 and older are projected to represent nearly a quarter of the labor force by 2030. The demographic shift poses both challenges and opportunities for organizations, particularly in industries like healthcare, manufacturing, and education, where experienced professionals are crucial. As India’s demographic profile shifts, the policies and frameworks must evolve to ensure the elderly are not only cared for but also empowered to contribute.
The need for comprehensive geriatric care, including specialized treatments for chronic diseases, mental health support, and facilities for palliative care, is likely to grow. National Policy for Older Persons, 1999 promotes family-based care for the elderly. The policy also seeks to engage voluntary organizations in complementing family care and extending support to vulnerable elderly individuals. However, its implementation, particularly in rural regions, has been limited if not missing, underscoring the need for broader initiatives to meet the needs of the elderly population.
In addition to expanding healthcare services, improving the accessibility and quality of existing infrastructure is important. Many elderly people, especially in rural areas, struggle to access healthcare due to poor transportation and inadequate health and infrastructure facilities. Enhancing the reach of services such as telemedicine, mobile clinics, and community health programs will help. It is also important to adopt a holistic approach that includes social security, economic engagement, and support for family structures.
Economic insecurity remains a pressing concern. The lack of appropriate pension schemes and adequate savings forces many to rely on their families, which may not always be viable. Approximately 90% of workers are in the informal sector, which offers no social security protection for older persons. Policymakers should consider expanding pension schemes to those in the unorganized sector as well, to provide a steady retirement income.
Creating old-age-friendly cities is essential to ensuring the elderly can live independent and dignified lives. Urban planning must include accessible public spaces, pedestrian-friendly roads, and public transportation systems that cater to the needs of older adults. One way to harness the capability of older people is to enable them to remain economically active. Policies that promote flexible work arrangements, part-time jobs, and community-based work through involvement of various voluntary organizations and NGOs can provide avenues for older adults to contribute.
This not only supplements their income but also fosters a sense of dignity and community involvement. In India, family members, particularly women, often bear the primary responsibility of caring for the elderly, impeding their workforce participation. To support caregivers, policymakers need to introduce measures such as caregiver allowances, training programs, and respite care services. Providing financial incentives and mental health support for caregivers can help mitigate strain.
Countries like Japan offer valuable lessons. With one of the most rapidly aging populations in the world, Japan has implemented extensive measures to address its population’s needs. The country has a comprehensive health insurance system that covers most medical expenses for the elderly. It also promotes productive ageing by encouraging older adults to engage in community activities and part-time work. Several Western nations have developed robust social security systems, public pensions, and community-based care models. These systems include initiatives like elder-friendly housing, accessible transportation, and financial support for caregivers.
India can draw on these experiences to inform its policies. The joint family has been the traditional system of elderly care in India. But migration and a shift to nuclear families have slowly shaken it up. Recognizing the diverse needs of India’s elderly population is vital. Tailored, region-specific policies that address these varied needs will be key. The aging report highlights the lack of credible data on old age-related issues. More could be done by including questions on emerging issues related to older people in data collection exercises of the National Sample Survey, National Family Health Survey, and the Census.
While India has been known as a culture that supports the elderly, this should not mean the government can give up its responsibility to ensure healthy and dignified lives, especially for its senior citizens.
