Finland Times

 

File picture of an elderly woman working at office. Photo Lehtikuva.

On a frigid morning in the depths of Finnish winter a gaggle of more than 250 experts, high-ranking decision makers and retirees gathered to ponder the challenges and opportunities presented by the country's aging population.

     

Experts at the meeting have stressed that Finland's elder power in starting up new businesses and volunteering their services should be unleashed.

     

"We have the second-fastest aging population after Japan," said Antti Kivela, head of the Empowering Society unit of the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra, the body that organized the talk shop.

     

It's hard to believe that small, vibrant and technologically-forward Finland is grappling with the challenges of a rapidly aging population. But the numbers don't lie.

     

According to the Finnish Centre for Pensions, more than 73,000 people retired from working life on an earnings-related pension in 2013. For the first time ever, the number of retirees cashing in on their old age pensions in a single year exceeded 50,000, the Centre reported.

     

"The target group we're speaking of is about one million, but it's increasing because the population is aging. So in about 20 years' time it will increase by about 500,000," Kivela explained.

     

File picture of elderly people in gymnasium. Photo Lehtikuva.

Sitra's Empowering Society offensive aims to target this aging cohort and exploit their potential for community-building work while ensuring meaningful lives in the 20-plus years they have remaining.

     

Finland's well-educated seniors have very promising post-retirement prospects.

     

Because of the skill, work experience and connections accumulated over an average 25 - 34 years of working life, many of them - about 50,000 - continue in full time employment after retirement.

     

Another 100,000 work on a temporary basis and the numbers are growing, Kivela noted.

     

Apart from paid employment, Sitra sees seniors stepping up to provide voluntary services to complement municipal offerings in areas such as child care. Since many retirees are technology-savvy, the medium to match elderly service providers with municipalities or even individuals could be the internet, Kivela said.

     

"There are people who are lonely and who want to help someone and there may be people nearby who need the help, but they may be too isolated from each other. So we think that new technology should be used in a voluntary work dating system," the Sitra director said.

     

According to Kivela, Sitra's role is to identify gaps in the market and try to fill them, typically by trialing new ideas. The "work dating" concept is just such an example. The idea will move into pilot stage during the summer in cooperation with selected municipalities, with a view to having the first set of results by the end of 2014.

     

File picture of an elderly woman working at office. Photo Lehtikuva.

More traditional forms of entrepreneurship are further options for Finland's experienced elders, Kivela noted.

     

"We speak a lot about start-ups. Everybody thinks it's youngster business. We think it should be elderly business," Kivela declared, noting that seniors have already raised families, paid off home loans and face less risk than young adults looking to break into business.

     

If Sitra and Finland's corps of skilled and vigorous retirees have their way, the next five to ten years will see more seniors starting new businesses, volunteering their services and leading meaningful lives as active members of society.