[K-Woman Talk] The Realities of Reemployment for Retired 50s and 60s

Higher Employment Rates for Those in Their 50s and 60s Than in Their 20s
A Wide Range of Choices: Startups, Technical, and Field Jobs
Taking On Roles With Greater Demand Than Office Positions

Retired friends are starting their "second rounds" one by one. As if they have returned to their twenties, they are eagerly earning certifications and submitting job applications. The determination of "I've worked for 30 years, so I'm going to enjoy myself to the fullest" did not even last a year, and now they are focused on job hunting, saying, "I'm still too young to just relax."

Statistics support this trend. Employment rates by age group show that people in their 30s and 40s have the highest rates at 80% each, but those in their 50s also reach 77%, and even those aged 60 and over have an employment rate of 46%. Considering that the employment rate for people in their 20s is 59%, the saying "the job-seeking child stays at home while the 50s and 60s fathers go to work" did not come out of nowhere.

The second rounds of my friends are all different. Some downshift to less demanding jobs that still utilize their expertise, while others start solo businesses, using their homes as offices. Regardless of the field, some obtain certifications that are known to lead to easy reemployment and move into technical jobs, while others choose field jobs that do not require certifications, as long as they can endure the initial period. There are many cases, but here I want to introduce three people who made unexpected choices.

One friend is now driving a city bus. Driving a bus also requires building up experience: you need at least one year of village bus driving to qualify for city buses, and at least three years of accident-free city bus driving to be eligible for express buses. Village buses are the toughest, with narrow roads, numerous stops, and tight schedules, and the pay is relatively low?about 3 million won per month in Seoul. If you get through this stage, conditions gradually improve. Currently, the retirement age for city bus drivers in Seoul is 63. After retirement, most move on to drive academy or commuter buses and continue working until about 70. "I like moving around now much more than being stuck in a stuffy office, stressed about sales," my friend said, looking more at ease than ever.

Another friend, who used to work in HR and general affairs at a mid-sized company, obtained an Electrician certificate and now works as a safety manager in a building management office. Even in the reemployment market, the phrase "Sorry, I majored in humanities" is unavoidable, so he decided to get the most in-demand electrical certification. The Electrician certificate is an entry-level qualification that anyone can apply for, regardless of their major. After gaining three years of work experience, my friend plans to obtain a Professional Engineer (Electrical) certificate and move on to become an electrical manager at an apartment complex or work for a construction company. "I was torn between taking the housing manager exam or getting an electrical certificate, but I think I made the right choice," he said, advising even those with a humanities background to go for certifications with high employment rates.

A mid-career reemployment consultant said that, surprisingly, "cleaning services" is a booming field these days. The increase in dual-income couples in their 30s has led to a rise in demand for home cleaning, as well as requests for cleaning villa stairways, building restrooms, and electronic appliances like ice makers and coffee machines in cafes. In the past, people avoided this work due to "strong chemicals," but now eco-friendly detergents are common and tools have improved, so the work is not as tough as it used to be. Cleaning service companies not only provide the necessary equipment but also offer manual training, making it easy for beginners to enter the field. As with any field job, the first three months are the hardest. Once you get through this period and become skilled, working eight hours a day can guarantee a monthly income of 3 to 4 million won.

The stories of these three people may not resonate with everyone, as most retirees want to maintain their expertise even if it means earning less. However, experts recommend stepping away from the "job search scenarios in your head" and actually doing some research first. This is because, if you visit senior job support sites such as Senior Work Net, 50+ Portal, or Noiniljariyeogi, you will find that the "decent office jobs" retirees imagine are almost nonexistent. Besides the three fields mentioned above, the jobs with the most postings are for care workers, nursing assistants, and logistics and delivery drivers. There must be "demand" for there to be "jobs."

Lee Sukeun, Publisher of Chwieobui Ppyeodae