Companies in Thailand are hiring people over 60 years old in order to fill in the gaps in its workforce.
Thailand has had to turn to its elderly population to fill in gaps in its workforce, which the country is struggling to maintain amid declining birth rates. Birth rates are declining globally, including in the United States, and the main concern that governments have about this is that they will end up with ageing populations, meaning there will be less working-age people to keep sectors running and support the elderly.
Thailand already has an ageing population and is ranked the third-most rapidly ageing population in the world, the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia says. Some 21.5 percent of the population are now over 60 years old, as of September this year, according to the country’s Department of Provincial Administration. In fact, the country may be headed towards becoming a “super-aged” society, defined by the World Health Organization as when more than 20 percent of the population is over the age of 65. Companies Hiring Over-60s This is why more and more companies in the country are hiring older people, often within schemes that work with the government, the Bangkok Post reports, including the Central Restaurants Group , a chain operator that runs big names like KFC. The CRG has put into place a program to recruit people who are retired but still want to work, currently employing 80 elderly workers out of 14,000 in total. “Some elderly employees work as chefs, sharing their expertise with younger colleagues entering the industry,” Jaruwan Ngampisutpaisan, head of human resources at the CRG, told the Bangkok Post. “There is still a bias that elderly workers struggle with technology or have health issues. In fact, many are open-minded and willing to learn new things.” The Thai government offers certain tax breaks to companies that hire people over the age of 60, including allowing employers to claim double tax deductions on wages. “Thailand’s experience shows that bringing seniors back into the labour market can be positive if it is grounded in decent work,” Professor Ruttiya Bhula-or, a labor economist and associate professor at the College of Population Studies, Chulalongkorn University, in Bangkok, told Newsweek. “Later-life employment can support income, purpose, and social connection—but only if jobs are age-friendly and voluntary rather than a response to inadequate pensions or high living costs,” she said. “The main concern—both in Thailand and the United States—is that older adults may remain in or return to the workforce due to financial necessity rather than genuine choice, raising questions about the quality and security of the jobs available to them.” Newsweek compilation. America Heading the Same Way Bhula-or warned that “in many ways” the U.S. has already started moving in the same direction as Thailand. Indeed, the 12-month average labor force participation rate for those 65+ increased from 12.4 percent in 1994 to 19.8 percent by April 2025, with projections of about 20.5 percent by 2033, according to the Society for Human Resource Management. “The U.S. is aging rapidly, as are many other developed nation – this has already produced labor shortages in many sectors including healthcare, education, hospitality and skilled trades,” American economist and International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans professor Olivia S. Mitchell at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania told Newsweek. She added: “In response, many firms are already working to retain and rehire older workers where they can. Many companies such as Walmart, Home Depot and Marriott also have in place senior-friendly hiring programs and retention policies, including flexible schedules and they are offering less physically demanding jobs.” Mitchell said that “rising costs, longer lifetimes, and the decline of defined benefit pensions have boosted older persons’ interest in remaining in the workforce longer.” “Whereas in Thailand, where the government is promoting elderly employment to offset population decline, the U.S. response has been more market-driven, shaped by labor demand, retirement insecurity, and age-friendly workplace policies,” she added. The Trump administration’s approach to the chance of an ageing population seems to be focused on reversing the birth rate decline. The White House has reportedly looked at giving women a “baby bonus” of $5,000, lawmakers have looked at making childbirth free for privately insured families and others have pushed to tie states’ transportation funding to their birth and marriage rates. There is a constantly evolving discussion about the causes of the decline, which include financial concerns and cultural shifts, and repeated debate about the best ways to deal with it. Meanwhile, global health economics professor Margaret Anne McConnell is one of several experts who have stres...
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Let This Be the Turning Point: Climate Justice After Hurricane MelissaTheresa Rodriguez-Moodie, Ph.D., is an environmental scientist and chief executive officer of Jamaica Environment Trust.
Read more »
Trump Is Turning the Screws on Vets So the Rich Can Get RicherDonald Trump and his administration are making cuts to the Department of Veterans Affairs and benefits for veterans under false claims of fraud.
Read more »
Danny DeVito gushes over grandpa duties — and how he's turning his grandkids into 'real Italians'Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are enjoying America's pastime at the World Series. Royal Expert Charlie Lankston and Page Six Supervising Producer Ashlee McGeehan are diving into the couple's public outing in the video!
Read more »
Texas among states turning to AI to improve road safetyTexas officials have been using StreetVision and various other AI tools to address safety concerns.
Read more »
Syria's civil society holds rare open discussions in DamascusRepresentatives of Syria's civil society have held rare open discussions in Damascus. Officials from the European Union and the transitional government attended the talks on Saturday. They addressed sensitive topics like sectarian tensions and ethnic divisions.
Read more »
Cities and states are turning to AI to improve road safetyCities and states across the U.S. are turning to artificial intelligence to spot the worst hazards and decide which fixes should come first.
Read more »