Desafios da inclusão do idoso no mercado de trabalho

Abstract

Context: With life expectancy increasing, aging is a relevant social problem that affects the overall workforce. Objective: This study evaluates the contribution of the elderly in the Brazilian labor market and related public policies. Methods: A literature review was performed by searching in two electronic databases: Literatura Latino-Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde (LILACS) and Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO). The research was carried out using the following Health Sciences Descriptors (DeCS): elderly, job market, public policy, retirement, job, aging, and health. Results: Work is a source of income, personal satisfaction, and also is important for maintaining quality of life. However, the elderly usually must compete with younger, more skilled workers and cope with the social stigma. These factors make it difficult for older workers to remain in the labor market. Current policies are insufficient to incorporate the aging population in the workforce. Conclusion: The implementation of public policies aiming to integrate the elderly into the labor market is mandatory, since the global workforce is rapidly aging.