When Taiwan begins to worry about who will support the future workforce, should we also think about: when a person leaves the workplace, who will help him relearn, change roles, and find his life direction again?
Population projections released by the National Development Council in 2026 indicate that Taiwan's working-age population aged 15 to 64 will decrease from approximately 15.76 million in 2026 to approximately 5.13 million in 2075, a decrease of more than 10 million people in 50 years. This is not only a warning about the demographic structure, but also a challenge that the education system must face up to. Employment statistics for September 2026 released by the Accounting General Office show that there are approximately 11.64 million people employed in Taiwan, a decrease of 15,000 from the previous month. Single-month data cannot represent long-term trends, but when compared with the population estimates of the National Development Council, Taiwan does need to think about its future manpower development strategy as early as possible.
Population estimates released by the National Development Council this year indicate that Taiwan's working-age population aged 15 to 64 will decrease from approximately 15.76 million in 2026 to approximately 5.13 million in 2075. (File photo)
The government's encouragement of the continued employment of middle-aged and elderly people is an important measure to deal with the lack of work. However, the elderly should not just be a backup resource to fill the manpower gap. What is really important is not just for people to work longer, but also for people to retain the ability to learn, choose and contribute at different stages of life.
The problem is that our education system is dominated by school-age education and pre-vocational training. Young people receive education in order to enter the workplace; working people receive training in order to improve their work capabilities; people who are about to retire or have retired lack a complete system to help them develop second expertise, re-plan their lives, and even explore new opportunities for work and social participation. We have prepared pensions, medical care and long-term care, but we have not fully prepared for post-retirement education.
Therefore, the government should incorporate third-life education into the public policy of the super-aged society:
First, establish a retirement transfer education system to allow those who are about to retire to learn life planning, digital technology, second expertise and social participation as early as possible.
Secondly, integrate senior learning with employment policies for middle-aged and elderly people so that learning can connect with functional training, local industries and voluntary services.
Finally, we reorganize educational resources under the declining birthrate and evaluate the transformation of suitable exit campuses into third-life learning bases, integrating universities, local industries and communities to develop cross-generational learning and the cultivation of senior talents.
Three major policies for third life education in a super-aged society. (Drawing by this newspaper)
Taiwan does not lack experienced, professional, and enthusiastic middle-aged and elderly people. What it lacks is the system and field for the continuous development of these abilities. In the face of a shrinking working-age population, educational resources should change with the demographic structure and rethink service targets and public missions. When we see the workforce of the elderly, we should also see their learning ability, creativity and social contribution. What Taiwan needs is not just to extend working years, but also to establish an education system that supports continued growth in the second half of life.
Let education accompany a person through the workplace, not only until retirement; let retirement become the starting point for a new start in life, rather than the beginning of the withdrawal of social roles. This is what a super-aged society should prepare for.
Grandma Zheng Hen (right), who is 90 years old, studies computer operation seriously. Her spirit of living and learning is admirable. (Provided by Nanshi Social Affairs Bureau)
(The author is the CEO of Miaoli County Elderly Learning Demonstration Center & an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Counseling Psychology and Human Resources Development, National Jinan International University)
