Active Aging in China: Reemployment Occupational Options of Older Workers

This paper aims to explore active aging from the perspective of older workers, offering new insights for its realization. It provides an in-depth understanding of active aging throughout the individual lifespan by analyzing the reemployment occupational options of older workers, drawing on the life course theory and social network theory. The study involved purposive and snowball sampling, consisting of 30 semi-structured interviews with older workers in Hebei Province, China. The data revealed four primary motivations for reemployment: instrumentality, affective aspects, continuity, and work-life balance. The findings underscored that reemployment among older workers served as a means of social participation with economic, cultural, social, and health benefits, enabling older workers to achieve self-sufficiency and lead fulfilling retired lives. Leveraging older workforce resources and maximizing values within their social networks were essential for addressing aging challenges. This paper concludes with policy recommendations to support older workers’ reemployment, fostering active aging and sustainable socioeconomic development.