中高齡自由工作者之職涯選擇歷程

A Study of Career Choice Trajectory among the Middle-aged Freelancers

我國社會高齡化，勞動力亦隨之中高齡化。中高齡者面臨再就業，有其劣勢，亦有其優勢。研究目的探討中高齡者從非自由工作者轉換成為自由工作者的現況、原因、職涯選擇歷程與需要的職業能力。研究方法採質性深度訪談法。立意抽樣5名45歲以上之原任職私人企業的全職員工或二度就業婦女，其在45～65歲之間職涯轉換成為自由工作者。分析方法採紮根理論，將文本進行開放性及選擇性編碼。且所有受訪者皆填具受訪者同意書。研究發現中高齡者因生命事件成為自由工作者，內在決策歷程除了依個人健康需求、財務安全及彈性工作時間做客觀事實評估；而長久以來職涯中壓抑或無法實現的內在動機與需求，如自我興趣，個人價值觀及主控權，成為轉職自由工作的重要助力。個人的自我效能促使其敏銳地從大環境的變動中發現問題、不斷調整策略並採取行動，直至轉職成功。豐富職涯累積的職業能力（如業務能力、組織能力及個人品德素質），是中高齡自由工作者成功立足職場的重要條件；資訊及科技使用能力，則為最欠缺的職場核心能力。長久建構的社會支持系統則有助減緩職涯轉換的財務、健康及心理的壓力。整體而言，本研究對象對其目前的身心狀況、能力發展、社會關係及財務狀況之自我評價均持正向肯定的態度。本研究針對中高齡者再就業的政策、轉型為自由工作者、及未來研究提出建言。

Aged society impacted the aging phenomena of the workforce in Taiwan. Facing reemployment, the middle-aged have their advantages and also disadvantages. The purpose of the study is to explore the current working status, reasons for transferring to a freelancer, career choice trajectory, and occupation capability for middle-aged freelancers. A qualitative in-depth interview was adopted and five freelancers, at the age of 45 and above, used to be full-time workers in the private sector or second-career women and making their career change during their 45~65. Interview texts were analyzed by using open, axial, and selective coding methods based on grounded theory. All interviewees signed an interview agreement before collecting their information. The study results showed the major internal reasons to lead the middle-aged to transfer their career to freelancers are life events, personal health needs, financial safety, and flexible working hours. Meanwhile, the key facilitators are long-term fundamental motivation and desire, such as personal interest, personal value, and control of the middle-aged. Personal self-efficacy enables freelancers to be sensitive to problems in the macro environment, thus leads them to continue to adopt new strategies and actions, until they successfully transfer to the new jobs. Past work experiences (such as business abilities, organizational abilities, and personal character) are the advantages for their job adaption However, the skills of technology and information are the weakness for core working competence. Social support systems are important which assists them to alleviate financial, health and psychological stress. In general, freelancers have a positive attitude towards their current physical and mental conditions, ability development, social relations, and financial status. The study provides recommendations for policies of the middle-aged reemployment, for the ones who want to work as a freelancer during their middle age, and for future research agenda.