人口 高齡化와 勞動市場政策에 관한 硏究

Abstract

Korea has been experiencing the highest speed of population aging due to lengthening span of life and low birth rate, and it is anticipated that it will rapidly become the aged society in 2019, which is second only to Japan. Population aging and low birth rate will possibly bring about increase of burden to support the elderly, serious trouble between old and young generations, financial straits of social welfare such as pensions and health insurances, decrease of the rates of saving and investment, low economic growth, diminution of labor force, and weakening of competitive power of enterprises. The labor market policy for the elderly should be focused on the furtherance of the independence and self-subsistence of their living. Suggestible policies derived from the analysis of the elderly labor market are as follows: First, labor market policy suitable for the elderly should be expanded and strengthened in order to help them work for a long time. Enterprises should offer various employment opportunities to the elderly who are capable of working, and uniform retirement system of the elderly should be changed to selective retirement system which is possible to make efficient use of the experienced ability of the elderly. Second, rigid seniority system should be drastically reformed in order to make the best use of the elder manpower and to promote productivity of labor. Reemployment of the workers retired under the age limit should be expanded, and wage peak system should be introduced in order to increase the employment of the elderly. Third, reeducation opportunity should be given to the elderly so that they can adjust themselves to the sudden changes of new circumstances and acquire new technologies. Life-long learning program should be developed in order to enhance the employability of the elderly and to help them lead sound lives of enjoying work and leisure. Fourth, the income-guarantee system for the elderly should be established so as to encourage them to participate in sustainable economic activity. And the retired life management program should be developed in order to help the elderly plan their later lives with their vigorous volition to work. Fifth, the government should do its best in the preparation of circumstances to promote wage flexibility and the expansion of job training and public employment security service. Enteprises should make every efforts in the intensification and expansion of service to support the change of occupation. Sixth, the retirement allowance system, which has many problems, should be reformed so that workers may select to retire on a single-sum allowance or on a pension. Seventh, private partnership should be necessarily introduced in the organization and transmission of welfare system so that workers` accessibility, selection and monitoring function may be enhanced in the decision, execution and evaluation of the work welfare policy.