Senior Entrepreneurship in Malaysia: Key Determinants of Entrepreneurial Intention Among Malaysian Pre-Retirees

As Malaysia is currently in the transition of moving towards an ageing nation in 2030, Malaysian pre-retirees are being increasingly urged to establish stable and secure sources of income to ensure a sustainable retirement. Promoting senior entrepreneurship is one effective strategy in this regard. However, most entrepreneurship research in Malaysia has predominantly focused on younger individuals seeking alternatives to traditional employment, leaving pre-retirees and seniors underexplored. This study aims to identify the factors influencing entrepreneurial intentions among Malaysian pre-retirees aged 45 to 59. A survey conducted with 616 respondents revealed that Individual Entrepreneurial Orientation, Entrepreneurial Attitude, Instrumental Readiness and Entrepreneurial Ecosystem, account for 66.0% of the variation in Entrepreneurial Intention among this group. Analysis with Smart PLS 3.0 reveals that these factors each have a significant positive relationship with Entrepreneurial Intention. Furthermore, the relationship between Individual Entrepreneurial Orientation and Entrepreneurial Intention is partially mediated by Entrepreneurial Attitude. These results offer valuable insights for the Malaysian government and other interested parties looking to engage pre-retirees as a productive resource for developing SMEs businesses. By addressing this research gap, the potential of pre-retirees can be harnessed to contribute to national economic growth and enhance individual retirement welfare.