A Decadal Shift in Time Use Among Chinese Older Adults: A Comparative Analysis of the 2008 and 2018 Time Use Surveys
Jing Ye, Hongyan Yang

TL;DR
This study examines how older adults in China have changed their time use between 2008 and 2018, showing shifts in work, housework, and leisure activities.
Contribution
The study provides new empirical insights into time-use patterns of older adults in China amid aging and policy changes.
Findings
Older adults increased paid labor time but decreased household production participation.
Unpaid housework declined, but childcare increased with persistent gender disparities.
Leisure activities expanded, including internet use and self-care improvements.
Abstract
China is undergoing rapid population aging, with 22% of its population aged 60 and above in 2024 and an increasing dependency ratio. In response to mounting labor shortages and pension pressures, the government initiated a progressive extension of the retirement age in September 2024. Against this backdrop, this study investigates the evolving time-use patterns of older adults (aged 60 and above) by analyzing data from the 2008 and 2018 China Time Use Surveys. Findings reveal that, for paid labor, the employment duration of older adults increased significantly (with workdays rising by 0.28 hours and rest days by 0.30 hours), while weekday household production participation rate declined from 36% to 24%. This reduction in total labor time underscores tensions with delayed retirement policies. Regarding unpaid labor, although overall housework participation fell from 79% to 70% on…
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Taxonomy
TopicsIntergenerational Family Dynamics and Caregiving · Work-Family Balance Challenges · Retirement, Disability, and Employment
