Effects of Growing Aging Population on the Work Force - Essay Example

Effects of the Growing Aging Population on the Workforce Effects of the Growing Aging Population on the Workforce Aging is the process of becoming older. It refers to growth of changes in an individual over time. In human beings, aging refers to the multidimensional process of psychological, social, physical change. Some proportions of aging develop and increase over time while others decline. In more economically developed countries like Canada, there is an enhancement of life expectancy causing aging of populations. The size of the aged population is high in the 21st century. It has never been experienced again in history. The UN projects that the size of the aged population in the 21st century would exceed by far that of the 20th century. Due to the age populations, societies have been altered (Swarts, 2009). For instance, unlike in the past, aged people are now found working even after retirement age. These changes have led to several consequences. This paper seeks to explore the effects that the aged population have on the workforce of Canada as a country. The paper discusses these effects by relating the relationships between old-aged workforce and both societal structures and norms. It adopts the theory that old age accrues some substantial effects to the nature of the country’s workforce. Research results from Canada’s labour industry play a role in the justification of this thesis. It then looks at how these results influence the norms and structure of the society. It tries to prove that the society has interdependent elements. Economic demands and inflation are some of the pressures that push the old to extend their work periods to the extremes of old age. In addition, everyone wishes to remain economically active throughout their lifespan, unless they are prohibited by unavoidable health conditions. Literature Review Canadian Aged Population According to Conen (2013), the Canadian population is aging quickly than ever before, and the tendency has extensive implications for several aspects of the society. Conen pointed out that median age was 39.9 years in 2011. He claimed that the median age of 2011 implied that half the population was older than the younger generation. In 1971, median age was 26.2 years. The seniors thus consist of fastest-growing age group. The tendency is envisioned to continue as the average number of children is low. In 2011, about 5 million Canadians aged over 65 years of age. The size of the population is projected to double in the coming 25 years to about 10.4 million people by 2036. For Canada (2012), in 2011, Nova Scotia had the highest number of aged people. Compared to the total population of the aged, Nova Scotia had 16.5 % in 2011. Growth rates of the aged population differ among provinces. It is expected that by 2036, Labrador and Newfoundland would have the highest percentage of aged people. In 2012, an estimated 21% of Canadians aged over 60 years. By 2030, the proportion is expected to increase to about 28.5% and 31 percent in 2050. A third of Canadians population would thus be made of aged people. Quality of Life for Aged People According to the United Nation- backed study, the Canadian society is dealing well with its senior population. Canada was placed fifth by Globe Age Watch Index. Canada came fifth after Germany, Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden. The United States came eight. The index drew its data from the World Health organization, World Bank, UN Population Fund, and several other international organizations. It looked at four features of old-aged quality life, which are health status, income security, education, employment, and the perceptions of older people of social connectedness. Canada scored highly on health status. She was ranked second to Switzerland. However, she lagged behind in income security and was placed 26th. The 4.4 % old-age poverty rate caused Canada to drop to the position (McPherson & Wister 2014). About a quarter of people in Canadians aged over 65, live without pensions. Canadian Labor Force According to Karpinska (2013), labor force in Canada is complex as several factors affect it. However, the key important factor is the aging population, which is influencing the labor force. People aged 55 and over rose rapidly in the last few years. Demographic projections by Statistics Canada postulated that aging of labor providers would increase steadily as the baby boom group age. According to Haerens (2014), Canadian labor force is expected to grow to 20.5 and 22.5 persons by 2031. The increase would be a rise from 18.5 million persons in 2010. The share of the labor force among people aged 15 years and above is projected to decrease in the coming years. The overall involvement would reduce from 67.0 percent in 2010 to between 59.7 percent and 62.6 percent in 2031. A person in a group of four laborers is expected to have 55 years and above by 2021. The percentage was 16.9 percent in 2010. Older workers Different governments define an older worker differently. Canada defines an older worker as a working person above 45 years of age according to Solin (2009). According to Brownell and Kelly (2013), older workers are from baby boomers generation. Employees are usually discriminated based on their ages. For most people, older workers lack physical strength, are less productive, are slow learners, are forgetful, afraid of technology, and are less motivated. Again, they are viewed as people who fear retraining or reeducation and as people who fear change. Most people also have a view that older workers should be given mandatory retirement to give space to younger people. However, productivity does not reduce with age. An aged person with motivation and good health can work as an individual in the younger generation. The amount of decline in cognitive or physical ability varies greatly. Even though the decline can happen, adaptation or experience usually compensates the decline. Adaptation varies with age. It is also influenced by factors like economy, family, health, support, physical demand of tasks, and reeducation. Work performance is influenced by experience, knowledge, abilities, and personal factor like marital stress, alcohol, and health for people at any age. The Structural Functionalist Perspective Berberoglu (2005) postulated that functionalist perspective also identified as functionalism forms the structural functionalism theory. Henslin (2005) pointed out that North American sociologists developed the perspective in 1950s and 1960s. According to this perspective, society has interdependent aspects that contribute to functioning of society as an organ. For instance, a structural functionalist would ask function of the social institution which is a family and its impacts it has on aging. The perspective argues that the social order exists in a society. According to Dant (2013), the social order is essential for maintaining existing function and forms of social institutions like political system, family, religious systems, and others to make the society function efficiently. The perspective also claims that each aspect of the society can be analyzed on its own. The essential ideas of functionalism are roles, norms, and socialization that regulate human behavior so that society can run smoothly. An individual is not an agent acting actively to shape society. Instead, according to this perception the society shapes the individual. An individual functions as per the society. Social norms establish the roles a person plays in the society. Structural Functionalism Theory Structural functionalism is a sociological framework for creating the theory, which view the society as a complex system with parts that work or function together to encourage stability and solidarity as per Ritzer (2005). The framework views society at a micro-level orientation. It puts a wide focus on social structures, which shapes society as a society. Best (2003) said that the framework believes that the society evolves as an organism. The approach thus looks at both social functions and social structures. Functionalism perceives society about functional aspects like customs, norms, traditions, institutions, and norms. Herbert Spencer popularized the view by portraying the society as an organ. People in a society are led by social structures that are relatively steady patterns of social behavior. Social structures confer shape to people lives in the community, families, and religious organization. Rituals like religious ceremonies and rituals give structures to people in their everyday lives. Every social structure has social functions for operation of society as an organ. For example, education has several significant functions like learning, social placement, socialization in a society. Analysis Delayed Career Paths for University/College Graduates Age-adjusted rates have increased leading to a decline in participation of prime-age individuals in the labor force. The Canadian workforce is growing older. The baby boom generation is passing into the middle ages and thus over 10% percent of senior Canadian is employed. The increase in the number of aged workforce reduces the chances for advancement of the young population to job positions. The employment rate for younger adults has fall. For example, Hazel McCallion, the current mayor of Mississauga, Ontario is aged 93 years. She had been successful in 12 municipal elections. Even though Hazel position is highly inaccessible to college and university graduates, her occupation of the position at her age signifies the lack of opportunity for a young individual. The nonage people are forced to wait for long before the find a place to advance their careers. The society is an organ. One part of society affects the other. Usually, new jobs are rare or few. Companies usually take long times before creating more positions. Furthermore, positions like that of McCallion are fixed. Their number is fixed unless a new company with the same position is created. Therefore, occupation of such positions by the senior members reduces the changes for the graduates to advance their careers. It makes them wait for job positions. The lack of advancement leads to unemployment rates, which increase with time as people above 55, continues to work. Increase in Crimes The growth in the old-age labor force participation and the reduction of the number of the younger population employed affect labor income over the life cycle. Since 1985, the population has declined in the proportion of adults aged 50 and below in the job market labor. The labor income for the youthful workers thus reduced. In contrast, older adults have high rates of labor income because their proportion in the job market is high. The labor income share of older adults between the age of 65 and 69 increased from 26% to 37% in the period between 1985 and 2010 (McPherson & Wister 2014). The increase is the direct result of an increased number of older adults and the reduced number of prime-age workers and young adults. The reduced number of positions for nonage adults leads to increase in crimes rates as young people tries to find something for survival (McPherson & Wister 2014). Insecurities would thus increase in the society. Consequently, the increase would increase the number of nonaged individuals incarcerated. Which also cause increased inmates numbers to a reduced number of positions for the prime-age and young adults causes several factors in the society, which would eventually alter the society. Smooth Running of the Society An individual improves his/her skills through practice. Practice enables them to perfect their skills. Older workers usually have high experiences because they have passed through various challenges, unlike the youthful workers. They are, therefore, able to ensure the efficient running of companies or organizations. Through these people, a society has a whole would have a smooth running as the older workforce understand various ways of solving challenges that might face them. Unlike most young workers, the older workers have utilized several approaches. They thus have a great chance to know the best approach for each situation. Prime-age and younger workers lack or have a limited number of experiences. Therefore, their chances of facing challenges effectively and efficiently are low(McPherson & Wister 2014). Therefore, they have the high probability to cause chaos in organizations or companies due to their innovative tendencies. Older workers would ensure the existence and survival in the society and thus the survival of elements of the society. Lack of Innovation in the Society Older workers have reduced level innovation. Many of them are used to the normal running of the company. Most of them lack new perceptions because, over time, they have developed certain way of looking at things in and around the company or organization. Some lack the ability to introduced new ways of doing things or to development innovative ideas. Older workers thus ensure that the organization remains the same. They mostly promote the status quo and thus may not introduce new ideas that can transform the society. With them, the society remains the same. Prime-age and Younger workers usually have different new perceptions that can help an organization, or a company introduce a change or several changes, which can eventually transform the general society. The low number of youthful workers in Canada reduces the possibility of alteration or transformation of the Canadian society. The older generation mostly ensures that the society remains mainly as it has been over the years. Development of Healthcare Policies for Older People Canadian population is growing rapidly. In 2011, 39.9 years was the median age in Canada, which means that half of the population was older than the younger generation. In 2012, an estimated 21% of Canadians aged over 60 years (McPherson & Wister 2014). By 2030, the proportion is expected to increase to about 28.5% and 31 percent in 2050. The population increase of the aged people is reflected in the labor market. The age bracket of the workers has increased aged workers as the baby boomers generation move into middle ages. The are predictions of the labour force increasing by 20.5 and 22.5 persons by 2031 (McPherson & Wister 2014). The increase would be a rise from 18.5 million persons in 2010. Due to the recent trends, the government was forced to develop certain healthcare measures that target the older generation. The measures ensure that they remain strong and able to provide their services to their companies. The provision of healthcare services to the aged is important because they are mostly exposed to several diseases. Again, the Canadian population is mostly involved of aged people and few numbers of people in the younger generation. The birth rate for Canadian women is estimated at 1.7 percent. There is thus need to develop health measures to highlight mature older generation needs as the economy depends on them. However, the other generation ought not to be forgotten as they are also part of the Canadian society. Delayed Retirement The development of health measures directed at proving healthcare measures for older people leads to delay retirement to aged people. The good health of people in the older generation would ensure that they could continue providing their services. For example, Hazel McCallion, who is aged 93, is the current mayor of Mississauga, Ontario. She had been successful in 12 municipal elections. Her good health has enabled her continue offering her services to the people of Mississauga (McPherson & Wister 2014). Delayed retirement leads to reductions of positions for college/university graduates. Creation of a Social Norm Employers have made several proposals on various measures to increase the number of older workers. The proposals were made in consideration of labor shortages due to baby boomers retirement in large numbers. Proposal targeted older workers who are at risk because of their social and economic position. The suggestion aimed to raise specific awareness of older worker’s needs. The suggestions thus aimed to redesign workplaces, jobs, equipments, and develop training for older workers. They also aimed to develop assistance programs and support and encourage sharing of information. A large number of senior citizens thus necessitated the development of several social norms to protect, help, and support the older workers. Conclusion The structural functionalist perspective views the society as an organ. According to this perspective, society has interdependent aspects that contribute to functioning of society as an organ. One aspect affects some or all other elements of the society. The increase of workforce that is old has led to several impacts on the society. It has led to the delay career Paths for university/college graduates, development of healthcare measures for the older people, and creation of social norms to protect and support older workers. It also led to increased insecurity, lack of innovation in the society, smooth running of society, and delayed retirement. Therefore, the society has interdependent elements. References Brownell, P. J., & Kelly, J. J. (2013). Ageism and mistreatment of older workers: Current reality, future solutions. Dordrecht: Springer. Berberoglu, B. (2005). An introduction to classical and contemporary social theory: A critical perspective. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield. Best, S. (2003). A beginners guide to social theory. London: SAGE. Conen, W. (2013). Older workers: The view of Dutch employers in a European perspective. Canada. (2012). Economic and fiscal implications of Canadas aging population. Ottawa: Dept. of Finance Canada. Dant, T. (2013). 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