China has announced plans to gradually raise the statutory retirement age over the next 15 years, starting from 2025. The move aims to better utilize the country's human resources amid increasing life expectancy and educational attainment.
Chinese people's average life expectancy has significantly increased from just 35 years in 1949 to 78.6 years in 2023. At the same time, the average years of education for the newly added workforce have risen from eight years in 1982 to 14 years in 2023. This has delayed the age at which people begin their careers, as individuals spend more time in education before entering the workforce.
Under the new policy, the retirement age for men will be gradually increased from 60 to 63. For women cadres, it will rise from 55 to 58, and for women blue-collar workers, from 50 to 55. This gradual adjustment is expected to help ease the decline in the working-age population and make better use of the country's human resources.
The shift reflects China's efforts to adapt to demographic changes and economic needs. By extending the working years, the country hopes to balance the pressures of an aging population and leverage the experience and skills of its mature workforce.
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Graphics: China raises retirement age to better utilize human resource
cgtn.com
