Why do Older Workers Chose to Participate in a Different Livelihood?

15 July 2017
University of Colombo, Sri Lanka

 

In Sri Lanka, it is only in urbanized cities that older workers (50+ years) have a wide array of career options to choose from, while job opportunities for them in less developed districts are limited only to the public sector. Therefore, those with low levels of education have less chance of employment, leading to higher unemployment rates in these districts. Further, those with young children also have a higher tendency of being unemployed.

These observations were made by IPS Research Officer, Samanthi Bandara, while speaking at the Annual Scientific Sessions and Annual General Meeting of the Population Association of Sri Lanka held on 15 July 2017 at the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka. Her presentation examined the reasons why older workers chose to participate in a different livelihood.