The UN ESCAP estimated that 60% of older persons resided in the Asia-Pacific in 2020 and their number was expected to rise to 1.3 billion by 2050. Japan in particular is considered the most “super-aged society” in the world, where 28.7% of the population is aged 65 or older, most of whom are women.

With increasing life expectancy, older persons are no longer seen as “dependents” disqualified from making economic contributions but rather as an active sector that can fuel the so-called silver economy. Attention is thus being paid to dispelling ageism and creating a more inclusive workforce, as seen in global efforts such as the adoption of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing in 2002. Understanding the correlation between the demographic transition and productivity is of primary importance for policymakers and businesses in the region.

Course Objectives

The main objectives of this course are:

• Introduce the concepts of demographic transition and population aging and their impact on labor productivity
• Examine various population aging scenarios and assess how factors such as gender influence policies for enhancing productivity
• Explore how technology can be maximized in aging societies and gain in-depth knowledge of aging, digital inclusion, and the silver economy

Course Modules

This e-learning course will cover the following modules: 
Module 1: Demography and its impact on productivity 
Module 2: Aging and labor productivity 
Module 3: Female and elderly labor force participation for productivity enhancement 
Module 4: Digital inclusion and creating an enabling environment for older people
Module 5: Emerging issues and the silver economy

Important Notes:

1. Participants who register to take this course and pass the final examination with a score of 70% or higher will be eligible to receive the APO certificate. Please note that the final examination can be taken only once. Therefore, the most appropriate time to take the examination should be chosen carefully. The self-assessment quizzes are for personal evaluation only and are not related to the final examination results.
2. Participants who perform well in this course and receive the APO certificate will be given preference, on a merit basis, for selection to attend follow-up face-to-face multicountry APO projects on similar topics, when nominated by their NPOs and if slots are available.
3. Notes 1 and 2 are applicable only to participants from APO member countries. Participants from nonmember countries are welcome to take the course for self-improvement, although they will not have an opportunity to attend the follow-up face-to-face multicountry APO projects.
4. Each module is in a prerecorded video format in which the expert delivers presentations by explaining each slide. Participants can access the video by clicking on the link provided under the title of each module.