Social changes in human capital of older Russian citizens in their work

Abstract

Purpose. To study social changes in the structure of human capital of Russian elderly citizens who continue working. Methods. The research methodology used by the authors of the article is based on the theory of social changes, the theoretical idea of the authors of the article about the human capital of older Russian citizens who continue working, the potential as an opportunity and readiness for change. We also used such a method as the analysis of laws and regulations of the labor activity of Russian senior citizens. To test the theoretical hypothesis, an empirical study was conducted using a survey (based on an opinion poll). 418 people aged 50 to 72 years living in the cities of the Sverdlovsk region were polled. Results. It is found out that the human capital of senior citizens is a system of components with specific characteristics that change and create conditions for the development of a new idea of retirement age, associated with a positive assessment of professional potential, readiness to continue working and learning new competencies. The positive assessment of professional potential is influenced by such factors as increasing the level of education of many senior citizens, increasing the number of representatives of such professional statuses as “individual entrepreneur” and “working pensioner”. The new concept of retirement age is also influenced by job status and skill level. Managers, experts and the semi-skilled, and craftsmen give a higher professional self-esteem than representatives of other official statuses. Changing perceptions of retirement age is influenced not only by material motives, but also by social ones: the need and importance in the family and work team, professional communication, and the ability to share own experience with employees of other age groups. Social changes include the development of a behavioral strategy for some older citizens as a set of conscious actions and subsequent changes based on professional mobility. Participants in changes in the components of human capital are not only senior citizens, but also government agencies, employers, and educational organizations. Scientific novelty. The components of the human capital of senior citizens are disclosed. It is proved that social changes include the development of a new concept of retirement age by Russian senior citizens, as a result of changes in the characteristics of human capital components.