CHIES, ClaudiaCORREIA, Marílis Ferreira2026-05-182026-05-182026-05-182026-03-17https://repositorio.unespar.edu.br/handle/123456789/990Population aging, driven by increased life expectancy and improved health conditions, has significantly reshaped demographic structures and social dynamics in Brazil, particularly in the State of Paraná and, more specifically, in the municipality of Paranavaí (PR). Within this context, older adults have become increasingly present in multiple spheres of social life, including the labor market, whether due to economic necessity or the pursuit of autonomy, social recognition, and existential meaning. Although the continued participation and/or reintegration of older individuals into the workforce may generate both individual and collective benefits, this phenomenon also exposes structural challenges, social contradictions, and weaknesses in public policies and in the working conditions available to this population. This dissertation is situated within the Area of Concentration “Society and Development” and the Research Line “Human Formation, Public Policies, and the Production of Space.” It is also linked to the research project “Population Aging in Campo Mourão (PR) and the Main Public Policies for Older Adults,” coordinated by the advisor Professor Claudia Chies. The general objective of this study was to understand the motivations that drive older adults to participate in the labor market in Paranavaí (PR), while analyzing the perspectives and conditions surrounding their labor engagement. Specifically, the study sought to examine the socioeconomic conditions and other factors that give meaning to work in later life; assess public policies aimed at supporting the permanence, return, or inclusion of older adults in the labor market; and investigate the concrete working conditions offered to economically active older individuals in the municipality. Methodologically, the research was grounded in the historical-dialectical materialist method and adopted a mixed qualitative and quantitative approach. Data collection procedures included a theoretical review based on scientific databases, the analysis of official statistical data, and semi-structured interviews conducted with older workers and institutional agents connected to the local labor market. The analysis enabled an articulation of both objective and subjective dimensions of work in later life, revealing contradictions between the protective legal framework and the lived reality experienced by older individuals. The findings indicate that older adults’ participation in the labor market in Paranavaí occurs predominantly under conditions of informality, low income, and precarious employment, highlighting the insufficiency of existing public policies and the persistence of discriminatory practices based on age. At the same time, participants’ narratives demonstrate that work plays a central role in sustaining autonomy, identity, and mental health, even when accompanied by physical exhaustion and insecurity. It is concluded that the labor market inclusion of older adults requires intersectoral public policies that integrate employment, social security, health, and social assistance, ensuring not only access to work but also dignified conditions for its performance. By giving visibility to the experiences of older workers in Paranavaí, this study contributes to the academic, legal, and social debate on active aging, human dignity, and labor rights, emphasizing the need to build a more inclusive, fair, and age-sensitive labor market.Envelhecimento populacional, Pessoa idosa, Mercado de trabalho, Políticas públicas, Interdisciplinaridade.DissertaçãoInterdisciplinar