So which industries are suitable for senior workers? "Some of our stores are recruiting retired elderly people, requiring fluency in Shanghai dialect and good physical condition. Specific requirements can be found on recruitment platforms," a store manager at a Xiao Yang Sheng Jian outlet told reporters. Recently, news about McDonald's, Xiao Yang Sheng Jian, and other companies recruiting retired elderly workers has sparked heated discussions.

According to information from the China Association for Social Security's official platform, National Bureau of Statistics data shows that from 2022 to 2031, China will experience the largest-scale "retirement wave" in history, with 20 million people retiring annually.

So which industries are suitable for senior workers? Recent comprehensive research and interviews reveal that post-retirement employment for elderly workers depends on their physical condition, skills, and specific industry requirements. For instance, nursing and domestic services currently offer more positions open to retirees, while the food and beverage industry is beginning to accept suitable retired workers. Some retirees with high professional skills are also being rehired in fields like healthcare.

**Post-Retirement Part-time Work: Monthly Income Over 10,000 Yuan**

Bian Zhiyu operates a domestic service agency in Suzhou. She reports that it's quite common for grassroots retirees to enter the domestic service industry. Those without prior experience in this field typically start after training and health checks, beginning as hourly domestic workers doing tasks like cleaning, cooking, and organizing for about 2-4 hours daily per household.

Bian Zhiyu matches retirees based on their household skills expertise - those good at cleaning are recommended for cleaning jobs, while those who cook well are recommended for cooking positions. Working for just one household as an hourly worker (2-4 hours daily) can earn about 3,000 yuan monthly. Combined with their existing pensions, this industry attracts many middle-aged and elderly people.

At Bian Zhiyu's company, Xinyuan Domestic Services, she estimates that retirees account for 30-40% of domestic service personnel. She notes that diligent hourly workers can serve multiple households, working from 6 AM to 8-9 PM, earning over 10,000 yuan monthly.

"I have a 60-year-old retired aunt here who earns over 10,000 yuan monthly. She's not afraid of hardship or fatigue, traveling from Wuzhong District to Suzhou Industrial Park for domestic cleaning work at 5 AM and returning at 9 PM. She's in excellent spirits and walks with vigor," Bian Zhiyu said.

What advantages make some retired domestic workers more popular with employers? Bian Zhiyu summarizes: "Those who are observant, can find work to do in employers' homes, and have high emotional intelligence never worry about earning money. Like that 60-year-old aunt - she's been in domestic services for ten years, loves learning, earned an organizing certificate, can endure hardship, cooks delicious food, and loves cleanliness. She's welcome everywhere and wins trust through reliable performance."

Recruitment platforms like Kanzhun Limited show significant demand for middle-aged and elderly workers in domestic services, especially cleaning work. Many positions are urgently needed, with monthly salaries ranging from over 8,000 to over 10,000 yuan, with low professional skill requirements.

"Domestic services are flexible employment with significant social demand. Many middle-aged and elderly workers are in this industry. Domestic services have subdivisions - cleaning work has lower barriers, but services like maternity care require skill certification and scientific childcare knowledge. Monthly salaries for maternity nurses can reach 15,000-20,000 yuan, while cleaning staff earn less. Of course, domestic service workers must be healthy and energetic - retirees must consider their physical condition," said Ke Jinshu, Secretary-General of Shanghai Household Service Industry Association.

iiMedia Research's 2024 report shows that 42% of Chinese consumers frequently but intermittently employ domestic service personnel, while 47% need daytime-only, non-residential services. With busy work schedules and childcare/eldercare needs, Chinese consumers use domestic services frequently. More families can afford socialized domestic services, creating huge demand in the industry.

**Food Service and Other Industries Begin Trials**

Kanzhun Limited platform information shows Xiao Yang Sheng Jian recruiting service staff requiring fluent Shanghai dialect communication with local customers, responsible for front-of-house reception, cashiering, and QR code ordering. Requirements include barrier-free Mandarin communication and acceptance of retired personnel.

McDonald's recently announced recruitment of retired personnel. McDonald's previously responded that it strictly follows legal regulations and government guidance for employment policies, legally paying social insurance for full-time employees. It employs flexible and diverse employment methods, including retired rehires under labor service relationships, providing compliant compensation and commercial insurance. McDonald's China is committed to providing comprehensive compensation, benefits, and a safe, respectful, inclusive work environment for all employees.

Zheng Jing is a retired elderly person over 60 who previously ran a small business. Unwilling to stay idle after retirement, she joined Haidilao years ago, working as a greeter, beverage station attendant, and ice product maker. Starting work at 8:30 AM, she finds fulfillment in creating beautiful ice products.

"I just don't want to stay idle at home. The work isn't tiring, and I feel my body can handle it. Mainly, it makes my life interesting," Zheng Jing told media.

**Professional Retiree Rehiring**

Su Binggong, over 70, has continued deep research in historical and cultural affairs throughout his retirement. He established Shanghai Huaxia Cultural Creativity Research Center, combining local history, culture, tourism, and popular science knowledge while participating in cultural project consulting and development. He maintains a pace of publishing one book annually to promote culture and tourism.

Shi Yongxing, nearly 80, was formerly a deputy chief physician and master's degree supervisor at Wenzhou Medical University. He currently serves as expert group leader at Shanghai Hospice Care Service Management Center and national hospice care expert. He has 34 years of clinical practice and research experience in hospice care.

"For retirees with professional skills, if physical and time conditions allow, re-employment is possible. I've researched hospice care for decades and seen many cases. I believe this industry can accept qualified younger elderly people aged 55-60," Shi Yongxing said.

"The medical and nursing field actually needs retired elderly people with professional knowledge and skills. They're very experienced, from doctors and nurses to care workers, capable of evaluating and reviewing elderly patients' various conditions. Those meeting professional and physical requirements can certainly be hired, though they must hold required health certificates and care worker qualifications," said Wang Xiaohong, Nursing Director at Oak Bay Nursing Home.

Public information shows Guizhou Province previously recruited retired senior medical and health talents nationwide through the "Silver Age Plan." 213 medical and health units across Guizhou's health system, including Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital and affiliated hospitals of Guizhou Medical University, published 644 talent recruitment positions, planning to recruit 766 people to enhance provincial medical and health service capabilities.

**Post-Retirement "Going Global"**

"Going global" is another re-employment option for some elderly, though few in number. After completing retirement procedures, Ms. Meng began considering new career possibilities. Before retirement, she worked in a first-tier city enterprise's finance department with rich experience. This time, her vision extended beyond domestic employment markets.

Opportunity came when a Chinese enterprise deeply involved in African mining extended an olive branch. After preliminary understanding, Ms. Meng visited the company's China headquarters for further information and decided to seize the opportunity.

During her years in Africa, she became a board member of this multinational enterprise, gaining deeper understanding of company operations while managing financial affairs. Ms. Meng believes retirement only means procedural changes, not leaving the workplace. Conversely, she thinks age isn't a problem if physical condition allows - the fifties are prime productive years.

Cross-border job applications aren't as daunting as outsiders imagine - a normal mindset suffices. The company shows no differential treatment between young and older employees regarding benefits. Ms. Meng attributes this to leadership without age bias, focusing more on employee capability.

**Supporting Elderly Re-employment**

The Ministry of Civil Affairs and 18 other departments jointly issued "Guidance on Supporting Elderly Social Participation and Promoting Meaningful Aging." The guidance calls for creating diverse, personalized employment positions suitable for elderly people, encouraging localities to establish elderly talent databases or job markets, and cultivating specialized human resource service institutions for the silver economy.

The guidance emphasizes comprehensively clearing unreasonable regulations hindering elderly people's continued contributions, ensuring they not only have security and joy in aging but also meaningful roles, powerfully supporting national strategies for active aging responses.

According to China Association for Social Security information, as China's aging deepens, the proportion of post-retirement age re-employment population continues rising. National Bureau of Statistics data shows that from 2022 to 2031, China will experience the largest "retirement wave" in history, with 20 million annual retirees.

Statistical data also shows that by the end of 2024, China's population aged 60 and above reached 310 million, accounting for 22% of the national population, with 220 million aged 65 and above, representing 15.6%. The National Health Commission predicts that around 2035, China's elderly population aged 60 and above will exceed 400 million, accounting for over 30% of the total population, entering severe aging.

Regarding post-retirement elderly workers, strategic positioning expert and founder of Fujian Huace Brand Positioning Consulting, Zhan Junhao, notes that elderly workers have significant advantages in experience, stability, emergency handling, and network resources. Their decades of industry accumulation enables quick problem identification and solutions, especially in management and technical consulting positions where their experience is irreplaceable.

Retired elderly typically show greater responsibility and loyalty, enabling long-term stable work and reducing enterprise training costs. Additionally, their network resources can bring potential cooperation opportunities.

Zhan Junhao believes elderly employment not only increases economic income and alleviates family eldercare pressure but also enhances happiness through social participation, eliminating post-retirement disappointment. In intergenerational integration, their collaboration with youth promotes experience transfer and enhances social cohesion. For psychological health, employment keeps elderly socially active, delays cognitive decline, and achieves "meaningful and joyful aging."

Zhan Junhao points out that retired elderly employment groups mainly concentrate in agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, fishery, manufacturing, wholesale and retail, community services, domestic services, and security positions. Rural elderly employment rates exceed urban rates, with younger elderly (60-64 years) showing the highest employment levels.

Professionally, some elderly continue previous occupations like teaching and medicine, while increasingly more turn to "silver occupations" like consulting, mentoring, and community services, leveraging professional advantages.

With accelerating aging, the elderly employment market will normalize, becoming an important labor force component. Policy support, market demand, and technological advancement (like smart eldercare) will drive development. Over the next 10-20 years, elderly employment positions will diversify, covering professional technical consulting, community services, health management, and other fields, forming new "silver economy" growth points.