TAIPEI, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- As high as 87.9 percent of employees aged 45 and above in Taiwan suffer from career panic, while about 79.7 percent have experienced age discrimination in workplaces, according to a survey released Monday.
The survey by job-hunting website yes123 showed that the main reasons for the career panic include "age," "difficulties to switch careers," "low salaries" and "financial difficulties."
Taiwan is expected to enter into a "super-aged society" in 2026, when over 20 percent of the population will be aged 65 and above, according to predictions by authorities of the island.
The average age of employees has reached a record high of 40.1 years old while those aged 45 and above accounted for 32.9 percent of the total work force, statistics show.
Yes123 spokesperson Yang Zong-bin said that the survey showed these employees face the challenge of being replaced by younger workers, financial strains and the pressure to care for the elders in the family.
According to the survey, 83.7 percent of the respondents said that age is a concern during companies' hiring process. About 65.3 percent said that they have seen cases in which new recruits were hired to replace senior staff.
The survey also showed that 22.9 percent of the respondents have retired but returned to work, mainly because they feel their savings for retirement are insufficient.
The survey, conducted from Sept. 12 to 26, polled registered members of the website who are aged 45 or above. The results were based on 1,048 valid questionnaires.
