International Institute for Population Sciences
Deemed to be University (An Autonomous Organization of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India)

The global population of individuals aged 60 years and older is growing rapidly and at a faster rate than younger age groups. The 2011 census estimates the population of older adults (60+) in India to be between 161 and 173 million in 2025, reflecting a significant shift towards an ageing population. With an increase in the ageing population, a question arises related to their capacity to remain economically active and healthy. In India, retirement age varies widely from 58 to 65 years depending on the sector. This lack of standardisation raises a critical question in understanding how ageing, health and employment interact. To explore this critical issue, the current study has been done using LASI Wave-1 (2017-18) data to estimate Working Life Expectancy (WLE) and three forms of health expectancies, and we have explored the association between these four indicators with the highest level of educational attainment and place of residence. The Suvillean method has been applied to estimate WLE and three health expectancies. The results show that professionally educated men show higher WLE when they are partially healthy as compared to unhealthy and healthy men, whereas the females who have done diplomas show higher WLE than others. Urban males and females who are partially healthy show higher levels of WLE as compared to rural. The analysis aims to determine whether an increase in longevity is accompanied by a parallel increase in healthy and productive working years. Overall, living longer does not always mean working healthier.