Abstract

Despite the significant number of older adults in South Korea seeking employment for livelihood maintenance, researchers have not given sufficient attention to elderly workers, and studies on their job search experiences remain scarce. This study draws on a self-regulation perspective on job search models to explore the job search patterns and internal experiences of older job seekers, aiming to gain a deeper understanding of their experiences during the job search process. We conducted a qualitative study based on in-depth interviews with 11 older job seekers in South Korea. The results indicate that older job seekers face disadvantageous job search environments due to age-discriminatory employment practices, intergenerational job competition, and limited access to information. These factors seem to restrict their employment options both qualitatively and quantitatively. Older job seekers, desperate for employment to maintain their livelihood, experience anxiety during the job search process but persist through self-regulation strategies. Even after gaining employment, they struggle with job insecurity and vulnerability. In response, they employ various emotional and cognitive regulation strategies, including self-blame, cognitive reappraisal, and downward comparison. However, upon job termination, they repeatedly return to the disadvantageous job search environment, creating a cyclical process.

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