Ageing with Dignity: Exploring the Lived Experiences of Economically Vulnerable Elderly Engaged in Late-Life Employment in Pakistan

Abstract

The last ten years or so have seen a rise in academic interest in working past retirement age and an increase in the public discourse surrounding post-retirement employment. In Asian countries like China, India, and South Korea, the majority of workers are in their early to late 50s, and many of them work well into their late 60s. An ageing population struggles to make ends meet in a developing country beset by political upheaval, sluggish economic growth, low senior savings, and a precarious pension system. The study investigated the experiences of older people who continue to work after the usual retirement age using a qualitative descriptive phenomenological research design. Thematic analysis revealed different perceptions and meanings associated with the experience of late-life employment broadly grouped into four main themes including the weight of responsibility, perspectives on ageing and work, maintaining dignity, and, physical and mental toll of ageing. Elderly people's reasoning and decision-making were greatly influenced by how they navigated the challenges of working into their later years and cultural norms. The accounts provided by the participants on employment and ageing enhance our comprehension of the experiences of elderly individuals in the workforce.