According to the World Bank, Oman has seen a dramatic surge from 42.67 years in 1960 to 77.39 years in 2017. Bloomberg
Japan has registered a rise in life expectancy from 67.67 years to 84.10 years in the same time period. Reuters
An ageing population means that Japan’s workforce must adapt. Seniors are everywhere these days, from wrinkled men waving glow sticks at construction sites to retirement-age women repairing clothes at seniors’ work centres. AFP
Japan hopes robots will make up for a shortfall in carers. In this photo, for instance, a resident reads a book during a session with Paro, a robot seal, at Shin-tomi nursing home in Tokyo. Reuters
Robots can do some things well, although the artificial intelligence behind them is a work in progress. Reuters
Noriaki Iwashima looks out of a coffin during an end-of-life seminar held by Japan’s largest retailer Aeon Co in Tokyo. Funeral arrangements are normally left to those who have been left behind but the latest trend in Japan, which literally translates to “End of life” preparations, is for the ageing to prepare their own funerals and graves before they set off on their journey to the great beyond. Reuters
Other Asian societies, such as in China, find ageing to be a challenge. Elderly people take a nap at a day care centre in Shanghai. Nursing homes are not an option for most Chinese. The few nursing homes in China supply only 22 beds for every 1,000 seniors, and most are too expensive for the average family. AP Photo
Owing to the tremendous advancements in science and modern medicine, average life expectancy has increased significantly over the past decades. According to the World Bank, Oman has seen a dramatic surge from 42.67 years in 1960 to 77.39 years in 2017. Similarly, Japan has registered a rise in life expectancy from 67.67 years to 84.10 years in the same time period.
Undoubtedly, this is a remarkable achievement for humanity in the 21st century. We must, however, take into consideration some other facts and figures to understand the full extent of the impact a higher life expectancy may have on society as a whole.
Along with an increase in life expectancy, we are also witnessing a drastic decline in birth rates across the globe. Oman has experienced a drop from 7.25 births per woman in 1960 to 2.92 in 2017, according to the World Bank, and Japan has seen a decline from 2.00 births per woman to 1.43 in the same time period.
The implications of an ageing population include a spike in healthcare costs, rising care-giving expenditure, a decline in the percentage of working individuals and subsequently lower rates of economic growth. In addition, there is a strain on social insurance programmes and pension systems that support the elderly.
Japan is currently the "oldest" country in the world. In 2019, approximately 28 per cent of Japan’s population was over the age of 65, with this demographic group forecasted to account for 40 per cent of the country’s population by 2060. However, the government and private sector have been working relentlessly for several decades now to overcome the effects this ageing population has on the economy.
In the year 2000, the Japanese government rolled out Long-Term Care Insurance (LTCI), a public programme that supports senior citizens aged 65 and above. The scheme is funded through charging a premium from citizens that are 40 years and above, who contribute a percentage that is determined by their income. LTCI provides senior citizens a range of benefits including institutional, home and community-based services that are delivered through a care manager.
Citizens registered with the programme can access services through care managers or service providers for a small co-payment fee. Municipalities are responsible for running the programmes in their respective districts, and engage with providers from both public and private sectors in doing so. At the same time, the federal government is in charge of stipulating the fees levied to ensure fair charges.
Of course, this system is not perfect and brings forth a series of challenges such as long waiting lists and a shortfall in the number of workers in the healthcare industry. However, it has taken the country forward in the right direction and continues to successfully deliver a myriad essential resources to elderly members of the community.
In addition, the government has also incentivised women, who either chose not to enter the workforce, or took breaks from their professional lives, to re-enter the workforce and contribute towards economic progress.
Organisations in the private sector have also offered opportunities to this ageing population and created suitable roles to integrate them into workplaces. For example, Lawson Inc, a convenience store chain in Tokyo has created a hybrid store that it has branded a "seniors’ salon". A section of the store is fitted out with a blood pressure monitor, and a team of social workers to support the elderly, and also to distribute leaflets and information on relevant healthcare services. The store also features a dedicated section of specialist products targeting the needs of senior citizens.
Furthermore, Lawson has also increased the maximum age limit for its franchisees and is offering part-time jobs for senior citizens, who can work limited hours as their health permits.
Given the decline in global birth rates and the advancements in health care, ageing populations are a concern for most nations. While Japan has set some excellent benchmarks for the rest of the world, the GCC region would do well to look inwards and see how we can utilise our individual strengths and provide creative solutions to reduce the strain of an ageing population on our regional economies.
Engaging senior citizens in roles tailored to their capabilities can add a new stream of talent for any organisation
Formal government programmes such as LTCI are undoubtedly very effective in delivering essential services and support to seniors. However, I believe the private sector has a wealth of opportunities that can be explored.
Engaging senior citizens in roles tailored to their capabilities can add a new stream of talent for any organisation. Products and services can be customised to suit the needs of the elderly, and designed to empower them to become active contributors to society.
Ageing populations are a pressing issue and we must follow Japan’s example and plan ahead for the upcoming decades. With the right resources and a clear blueprint, we will be able to care for our citizens across all ages while also maintaining steady economic growth.
Mohammed Alardhi is executive chairman of Investcorp and chairman of Bank Sohar, and was the longest-serving Omani head of the Royal Air Force of Oman
Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
box
COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: Letstango.com
Started: June 2013
Founder: Alex Tchablakian
Based: Dubai
Industry: e-commerce
Initial investment: Dh10 million
Investors: Self-funded
Total customers: 300,000 unique customers every month
Date of Birth: April 25, 1993 Place of Birth: Dubai, UAE Marital Status: Single School: Al Sufouh in Jumeirah, Dubai University: Emirates Airline National Cadet Programme and Hamdan University Job Title: Pilot, First Officer Number of hours flying in a Boeing 777: 1,200 Number of flights: Approximately 300 Hobbies: Exercising Nicest destination: Milan, New Zealand, Seattle for shopping Least nice destination: Kabul, but someone has to do it. It’s not scary but at least you can tick the box that you’ve been Favourite place to visit: Dubai, there’s no place like home
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024. It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine. Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages]. The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts. With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians. Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved. Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world. The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
