Over the past few decades, the sustained decline in birth rates has already set the stage for a shrinking future workforce in most developed countries.

The Challenges of Population Aging

Meanwhile, population aging has also intensified.ToThe pressures on healthcare, care systems, and non-fund-supported pension schemes.

The World Economic Forum's newly released report, "The Future-Ready Longevity Economy: Innovation and Key Trendspoints out,To truly unlock the potential of the longevity economy, it is essential to confront and address several critical issues.

To maintain and upgrade public infrastructure without increasing the tax burden, it is essential to ensure sustained growth in Gross Domestic Product (GDP).Meanwhile, labor force size and per capita productivity are the core factors determining GDP growth.

Fortunately, current technological advancements—particularly in artificial intelligence and process optimization—could effectively boost productivity per capita.

Additionally,More and moreThe company is transitioning to a "skills-driven" organizational structure, which will enable more efficient allocation of talent resources.

However, to truly boost overall productivity, simply improving output per worker isn’t enough—it also requires expanding the total labor force. In addition to proactive immigration policies, unlocking the potential of the domestic workforce is equally critical.

The government can drive this process forward through legislation and incentive mechanisms, but the real “The main event"Perhaps the employer will still need to bear the cost."

Why should employers take proactive action?In short, expanding the available labor pool means businesses can tap into a broader talent pool, helping to reduce recruitment costs, improve talent matching, and minimize the opportunity costs associated with unfilled positions.

How can we address the challenge of a labor supply shortage?

Encouraging an age-inclusive workforce

Ageism remains one of the main barriers preventing older workers from re-entering the job market.The eligibility criteria for national welfare subsidies are extremely strict.It can also create negative incentives for job seekers or lead to longer working hours.For example, a slight increase in income could lead to a significant reduction in corresponding benefits.

During the recruitment process, companies can adopt more flexible criteria: as long as candidates possess core skills, the right work attitude, and relevant experience, they may be qualified for certain roles—even if they don’t fully meet the job requirements.

"By adopting a forward-thinking approach, companies can enhance their image as employers of choice."

Create opportunities to drive growth and productivity

Many companies still maintain a "promote-or-perish" culture, which was originally intended to ensure that top-level positions are filled by the very best talent.And promoteTalent mobility at the grassroots level.

However, by creating more low-cost, stable, and experienced positions—whether advisory or unconventional senior roles—companies can still generate value.

While the government can foster the skills needed for the future through education reform, businesses themselves should also increase their investments.Especially for departments where future job demands may decline, we will provide support to help employees transition into new roles.

Building a flexible work culture

Although the pandemic has shifted many companies' perspectives on remote and hybrid work models, several organizations are now tightening their policies once again.This could exclude a portion of the potential workforce.

Establish a culture that supports flexible working arrangements, such as allowing reduced-hour work, caregiving leave, or intermittent time off.Helps employees maintain productivity over the long term.As fertility rates decline and life expectancy increases,Caring for elderly relatives has become the norm.

In many countries, particularly in Asia, certain cultural biases still persist—such as the perception that employees who work part-time, take time off, or opt for remote work are "not fully committed."

Transforming retirement from an "instant event" into a "gradual process," such as progressively reducing working hours,Converting employees to contract roles or internal reassignments, when managed effectively, can help extend their working years significantly.

At the very least, abolish the mandatory retirement age, or eliminate it from the pension system.ToRetired individuals returning to workRestrictions，It will be a good start.

Business awareness

Employers who take action first will gain a competitive edge in terms of hiring speed, quality, and the cost of attracting top talent.

Through these forward-thinking initiatives, businesses can not only enhance their employer brand image but also contribute to economic growth, creating broader opportunities for people of all ages to thrive.

The above content solely represents the author's personal views.This article is translated from the World Economic Forum's Agenda blog; the Chinese version is for reference purposes only.Feel free to share this in your WeChat Moments; for reprints, please leave a message at the end of the article or on our official.