At the Third World Forum on China Studies held in Shanghai, Gui Shixun, the deputy director of the Shanghai Research Center On Aging and a professor at East China Normal University, pointed out that the negative growth of Shanghai's working population will become worse and suggested a longer work time for women.
Research shows that Shanghai's working population aged between 15 and 59 has decreased from 9.8085 million in 2006 to 9.7561 million in 2007, reportedly the first negative growth in any of China's municipalities.
He stated that the negative growth of Shanghai's working population should ease the employment pressure of the municipality, but will also increase the social pressure of caring for senior citizens also stated.
Professor Gui made suggestions on the future adjustment of population policy. First, allow for an increase in the number of people with scarce talents getting Shanghai domicile; second, defer the retirement age for female workers from 2010, and male and female workers to retire at the same age, 60, in 2020; and third, make minor adjustments to the current fertility policy of Shanghai after 2010, and allow a second baby for a couple's with one partner being single child.
