Challenges and opportunities of occupational health and occupational medicine in the context of population aging

Guodong LU; Hua FU; Wuzhong LIU; Zhijun ZHOU; Yan YIN

Return

Challenges and opportunities of occupational health and occupational medicine in the context of population aging

VernacularTitle:人口老龄化背景下职业卫生与职业医学的挑战和机遇
Author: Guodong LU ¹ ; Hua FU ¹ ; Wuzhong LIU ² ; Zhijun ZHOU ¹ ; Yan YIN ³
Author Information

1. .
2. Occupational Health Assessment Center, Shanghai Institute of Chemical Industry Occupational Disease, Shanghai 200041, China.
3. Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai 200336, China.
Publication Type:Specialcolumn:Populationagingandoccupationalhealth
Keywords: occupational health; occupational medicine; aging; working-age population; new quality productive force
From: Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2024;41(9):961-966
CountryChina
Language:Chinese
Abstract: In the context of facing the dual challenges of aging population and declining birth rates, the absolute number of working-age population in China is decreasing, while the proportion of middle-aged and elderly workers is significantly increasing. However, China possesses a vast labor force, and the advantages of talent dividend are gradually emerging, both of which can offset the negative impact of the shrinking demographic dividend on social productivity. Labor is the most active factor among various production factors and is an important component for developing new quality productive forces. With the development of new quality productive forces, occupational health and occupational medicine are presented with new development opportunities. In the process of aging of the labor force, occupational health and occupational medicine can investigate how to utilize next-generation information technology, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and other growth engines to safeguard the occupational health of workers, extend their working lives, actively unleash their creativity and initiative, and compensate for the labor shortage caused by an aging population and the potential decrease in labor productivity. This transformation in occupational health and occupational medicine is not only crucial for the health and career development of workers in an aging society, but will also have a positive impact on the creation of an age-friendly society and the sustainable development of productivity.