Aging as an Opportunity for New Job Creation: A Case Study of Startup Businesses Emerging from Elderly Services

Authors

Department of Society and Progress, Technology studies Institute, Tehran, Iran

10.22034/jeds.2025.66142.1856

Abstract

Objective: The aging population presents an opportunity for the emergence of new jobs, innovation in the production of elderly-friendly goods and services, and the provision of new services. This research aims to investigate the global experiences of leading startup businesses as a model for leveraging job opportunities in the aging sector.
Methods: This research employs a qualitative descriptive-analytical approach. Leading startups in the aging sector were identified by searching international databases using relevant keywords. Selection criteria for top aging startups included service comprehensiveness, geographical coverage, innovation in service delivery, scope of job creation, and social impact. Ultimately, 100 aging startups were selected from 91,166 startups across five countries (the United States, China, India, Canada, and the United Kingdom) spanning three continents (North America, Europe, and Asia) for in-depth study. An identity profile was used to examine and analyze each aging startup, aiming to answer the research questions and achieve a deeper understanding.
Results: The results indicate that each aging startup in the selected countries provides an average of two or three general types of services based on the core needs of the elderly (health and wellness, social, economic, living environment, and public services). Within each general service category, an average of one or two specialized services are offered. The job opportunities created in aging startups can be classified into at least 30 general categories. The more specialized the services related to these opportunities, the greater the number and diversity of job opportunities.
Conclusion: By examining leading startups in elderly services, potential jobs emerge that can be created by modeling similar international examples and localizing them according to the country's culture and needs.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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