新冠肺炎對美國、歐洲中高齡與高齡工作者就業的影響

The Impact of COVID-19 on the Employment of Middle-Aged and Elderly Workers in the United States and the Countries of Europe

新冠肺炎對美國及世界各國產生諸多影響，本研究主要探討在疫情爆發前後對美國及歐洲國家中高齡與高齡工作者工作狀況的影響，哪些人比較可能失業？哪些人比較可能繼續工作？回顧2019年（疫情爆發前）到2022年（疫情爆發後）間，美國、歐洲及國際組織的相關研究及統計，本文發現疫情對美國及歐洲多數國家的中高齡與高齡工作者的確產生負面的影響，特別是對女性、有色人種、低教育程度、非本國籍移民者等多重弱勢者。工作上需要與人密切接觸的工作者、低技術的工作者等，在疫情期間比較容易失業，反之，工作可以遠距進行，繼續工作的可能性大幅提高。某些產業，如餐飲業、觀光旅遊、零售業在疫情期間受創最嚴重，工作機會大量減少，在此相關產業工作的中高齡與高齡者更可能因此被迫失業。整體而言，新冠疫情的影響是多面向的，本研究最後討論政策上的建議。

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted communities through-out the United States and worldwide. This study is aimed at analyzing the impact of COVID-19 crisis on the employment of middle-aged and elderly workers in the US and the countries of Europe before and after the pandemic. Who are more likely to be unemployed? Who are more likely to work continuously? In this article, the author reviews literature and statistics related to the employment of middle-aged and elderly workers in the US, the countries of Europe, and international organizations from 2019 (before the pandemic) to 2022 (after the pandemic). The pandemic has resulted in negative influence on the middle-aged and elderly workers, particularly for women, people of color, those without college degree, and non-natives. Workers involving higher physical contact and lower-skilled are more likely to lose their jobs during pandemic. In contrast, workers who can work from home are more likely to work continuously. Some industries, such as food services, accommodation, wholesale and retail have been hit disastrously, have mass layoffs. Middle-aged and elderly workers are more likely to be laid off due to the negative effects by pandemic. Overall, Covid-19 has brought about multidimentional and server problems. The author finally discusses some suggestions to policy-making and solutions.