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Generational Pressure and Workload of Early-Career University Teachers Under Delayed Retirement: a Population-Institution Policy Analysis

Author(s)

Zhang Qiuyu

Affiliation(s)

Chongqing Jiaotong University, Chongqing, China

Abstract

China's population aging continues to deepen. At the end of 2025, the population aged 60 and above reached 323.38 million, accounting for 23.0% of the total population. Starting in 2025, the gradual delayed retirement policy was formally implemented. the proportion of senior professional-title positions in universities is subject to strict institutional constraints. Delayed retirement extends the time senior teachers occupy positions and, together with the continuous expansion of doctoral graduates, may create a structural contradiction of "entry expansion-exit rigidity, " potentially compressing early-career university teachers' promotion space. Based on official statistics, policy texts, and existing empirical studies, this paper constructs a population-institution analytical framework and examines the impact of delayed retirement on the career situation of early-career university teachers through three mechanisms: first, age norms and time pressure for promotion in the life course; second, the position stock game in the generational contract; and third, insufficient organizational support and the individualization of pressure. This paper argues that delayed retirement policy requires supporting "participation-exit" mechanisms, a burden-reduction list, differentiated evaluation, and organizational support. This paper is a policy analysis and narrative review and does not collect primary data. Based on official statistics, policy documents, and published empirical studies, this paper constructs a population-institution analytical framework.

Keywords

Delayed Retirement; Early-Career University Teachers; Generational Pressure; Workload; Policy Analysis

References

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