Systematic Research on the Use of Higher Education, Science, Research, and Innovation for Learning Enhancement and Employment for the Elderly in the Agricultural Sector

Abstract

Thailand is becoming an aged society with 20 percent of the total population aged 60 years and over. The objectives of the study consist of 1) to examine the elderly informal workers’ needs in skill development, attitudes toward work, and government assistance; and 2) to design mechanisms to improve learning for the elderly in the agricultural sector. The analysis focused on the data set gathered from 500 individuals aged 60 years and over who were currently working in the informal sector at the time the survey was conducted. The informal sector is categorized into four groups: business owners and skilled workers, store or online sellers, farmers and fishery workers, and general contractors and low-skilled workers. The study incorporates in-depth interviews and focus group meetings with experts from the public, private, academic, and community sectors. The findings show that the three most demanded skills development for elderly workers in the agricultural sector are health development, entrepreneurship, and self-employment skills. The three most valued attitudes are adaptation to the work environment, adaptation to colleagues, and work stress management. The three most needed government assistance are welfare, continuous employment, and fair compensation. Government organizations can take part in nurturing elderly career opportunities and increase capacity development by encouraging people of all ages to apply modern technology in the management of local enterprises to drive more effective measures for the elderly agricultural workers in rural areas. This allows the elderly to learn how to utilize information technology from the younger generations such as online marketing, new distributor sourcing, and resource management. The elderly, in return, exchange their agricultural wisdom with younger generations which enhances their role in the local communities.