Market reference guide: This article covers materials from both Korea and the U.S. Each piece of information is marked in the text with 🇰🇷 Korea or 🇺🇸 U.S. to indicate which country it applies to.
When parents say, "It would be nice to have something to do," there are many layers of meaning in those words. It may be the need for income, a desire to see someone's face every day, or a wish for reassurance that "I am still useful." Senior employment policies are systems that respond to these complex needs. In 2026, both Korea and the U.S. have seen notable changes in this field. We have compiled information that will be helpful for both parents living in Korea and families living in the U.S.
🇰🇷 Korea The most striking change in 2026 is scale. The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced that it will provide a total of 1,152,000 senior job and social activity support positions through the 2026 Senior Job and Social Activity Support Project. This is an increase of 54,000 positions from the previous year, marking a record high in the 21 years since the project began. The majority of the increase is in the skills-utilization type, expanded to leverage the careers and expertise of the Baby Boom generation, which has relatively higher health, income, and education levels.
🇰🇷 Korea Job types are divided into three major categories. The public benefit activity type targets basic pension recipients aged 65 and over and involves community service activities such as elder-to-elder care, traffic safety guidance for school drop-offs and pick-ups, and meal support at senior community centers. The activity allowance is approximately 290,000 won per month, and since the public benefit activity allowance is not included in basic pension calculation income, it does not affect pension payments. The skills-utilization type (formerly social service type) is based on 15 hours per week and 60 hours per month of work and can receive approximately 760,000 won per month including weekly holiday pay. Participants selected for the newly established 2026 kindergarten senior care worker program can receive a salary of 900,000 won per month after completing 30 hours of specialized training.
🇰🇷 Korea There are two ways to apply: online and offline. For online applications, you can use "Senior Job Here (seniorro.or.kr)" or Welfare portal (bokjiro.go.kr). For those who find the internet inconvenient, you can visit a nearby Administrative Welfare Center, Senior Club, or Korea Senior Association with your ID to receive consultation. The 246,000 employment and entrepreneurship positions are recruited continuously throughout the year, so applications are possible even if you missed the early recruitment period. For inquiries, you can call the Senior Job representative hotline at 1544-3388 (weekdays 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.).
🇺🇸 U.S. In the U.S., there is the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP), operated by the U.S. Department of Labor. This program supports low-income seniors aged 55 and over with income at or below 125% of the federal poverty line, providing part-time job training and employment placement. Participants typically work an average of 20 hours per week and receive wages based on the highest of the federal, state, or local minimum wage standards. They are placed in nonprofit and public institutions such as schools, hospitals, adult day care centers, and senior centers to gain practical experience, which serves as a bridge to the general employment market.
🇺🇸 U.S. However, as of 2026, SCSEP is in an uncertain situation. Congress approved approximately 395 million dollars in funding for fiscal year 2026, but the administration has proposed complete elimination of the program in the 2027 fiscal year budget. Additionally, in 2025, the Department of Labor temporarily suspended the distribution of over 300 million dollars in grants, leading operating agencies such as Goodwill and the National Council on Aging (NCOA) to suspend services for approximately 30,000 senior workers. Efforts to maintain the program continue, with bipartisan members sending joint letters opposing budget cuts. NCOA analyzes that there is a high possibility of a Continuing Resolution (CR) at the current budget level starting at the beginning of fiscal year October 2027. SCSEP regional program searches can be found on the CareerOneStop website (careeronestop.org).
Korea and the U.S. take different approaches to senior employment policies. Korea is government-led, expanding the scale every year while pursuing two goals simultaneously: social participation and income protection. The U.S. has a structure where private training institutions and federal budgets are interconnected, so the program's very existence can be shaken by political changes. Which program to recommend to your parents depends on the country of residence and income and health status, so it is important to first check specific eligibility requirements and application procedures.
Sources: Official guidance for the Senior Job and Social Activity Support Project by the Ministry of Health and Welfare (mohw.go.kr), Korea Senior Workforce Development Institute 2026 Project Promotion Direction, Media Life 2026.02 report, U.S. Department of Labor (dol.gov) SCSEP official guidance, U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) Older Worker Report (2026.01), NCOA (National Council on Aging) Federal Budget Status Report (2026), CNBC 2026.05 SCSEP Budget Analysis article.
Note: This article was compiled by AI from the sources cited above. We strive for accuracy, but for decisions about your specific situation, please confirm the latest guidance from a professional or the relevant agency.