According to the Ministry of the Interior, the dependency ratio in Taipei has exceeded 50. That means every two working-age people — those aged 15 to 64 — would have to support one dependent, defined as children below the age of 15 or elderly people above the age of 65. At the same time, the fertility rate in Taiwan continues to reach new lows, with the nation set to become a super-aged society by 2025. Therefore, the major reason behind the high dependency ratio is the increase in the old-age dependency ratio.
Today, thanks to the advancement of medical care and technology, many jobs and tasks are not limited to the young and fit, but those over the age of 65 are not counted as a part of the working-age population.
When a person passes the age of 65, they are treated as a “dependent.” This definition of the working age and who needs to “be supported” does not reflect the actual situation and is not instrumental in discussing and formulating policies related to Taiwan’s aging society.
A look at the data on the average life expectancy over the past decades shows how much has changed. Thirty years ago, people aged 65 were considered “elderly,” but that it is no longer the case.
Ministry of the Interior statistics show that in 1990, Taiwan’s life expectancy at birth was 71.3 years. In 2000, it rose to 76.5 years and in 2010 it increased to 79.2 years. Most recently in 2020, it rose to 81.3 years. Even though the life expectancy of Taiwan’s population keeps increasing, the concept of “old age” has not kept pace.
In an aging society like Taiwan’s, the working age and the age of elderly people should be redefined in relation to social changes.
Taiwan’s labor market has transformed into a knowledge-intensive one, which means that the nation does not have to rely on labor-intensive industries as it used to.
In this sense, many robust people over the age of 65 should be given the choice to keep working. If they do not wish to be categorized as dependents, governmental agencies should revise current demographic measures accordingly.
Huang Wei-ping is a former think tank researcher and a Kaohsiung resident.
Translated by Liu Yi-hung
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