Unveiling the labour market and social security perspectives of ageing: a systematic review

Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine the evolution of research on ageing populations by analysing global perspectives and identifying gaps with a focus on labour market dynamics and social security to guide future research and policies for the elderly. Design/methodology/approach This study adopts bibliometric analysis guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews (PRISMA) protocol. The set of keywords was prepared to align closely with the research objectives, such as “elder,” “population ageing,” “social security,” “pension,” “labour market,” “older worker” and “retirement”. The search was not restricted by time. Findings The review highlights that in high-income nations, policies are more concerned with promoting employment opportunities for older adults, enhancing ageing-friendly societies and workplaces, promoting delayed retirement and market-based support systems. On the other hand, the middle-and low-income ageing nations have other forms of policy concerns, such as developing basic infrastructure, resolving socio-economic disparities and addressing challenges of feminization of ageing population. Originality/value By evaluating literature at the cross-country level, the study reveals economic perspectives of ageing, highlighting emerging issues regarding the labour market and social security prospects. This study offers a deeper understanding of global research and policy perspectives amid economic transformation through a thematic review and guides future scholars and policymakers to address these issues.