Policies for an Ageing Workforce
Policies for an Ageing Workforce
Work-life balance, working conditions and equal opportunities
Contributor(s): Mikkel Barslund (Editor)
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences, Politics, Social Sciences, Economy, Sociology, Labor relations, Health and medicine and law, Demography and human biology, Human Resources in Economy, Socio-Economic Research
Published by: CEPS Centre for European Policy Studies
Keywords: Ageing workforce; work-life balance; working conditions; equal opportunities;
Summary/Abstract: We are all growing older. On average, life expectancy increases by three months every year. Seen over the span of the last century, this is a testament to enormous social progress. But since we are living longer, we also need to work longer so that the proportion of life spent in employment remains more or less constant. This is the basic premise for maintaining not only our pension systems but also the welfare state, solidarity between generations, and the social fabric.
Series: CEPS Paperback Series
- Page Count: 79
- Publication Year: 2019
- Language: English
Work-life balance over the course of working life
Work-life balance over the course of working life
(Work-life balance over the course of working life)
- Author(s):Robert Anderson
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Labor relations, Socio-Economic Research
- Page Range:1-5
- No. of Pages:5
- Keywords:Work-life balance; working life; EU;
- Summary/Abstract:Reconciliation between working and non-working life is a long standing interest of the EU institutions, member state governments and social partners. At EU level, the issue of work-life balance has predominantly concerned work and the parental care of young children; however, challenges towork-life balance increasingly stem from the ageing of the population. This brings responsibilities for caring for disabled and infirm people.
‘Til work do us part?’ Domestic relationships in extended working life households
‘Til work do us part?’ Domestic relationships in extended working life households
(‘Til work do us part?’ Domestic relationships in extended working life households)
- Author(s):David Wilkinson, Andreas Cebulla, Nathan HUDSON-SHARP
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Labor relations, Socio-Economic Research
- Page Range:6-10
- No. of Pages:5
- Keywords:Domestic relationships; working life households;
- Summary/Abstract:Facilitating opportunities for a better work-life balance is one key route through which individuals may be encouraged to extend their working lives. Recent years have seen the expansion of a variety of employer-ledsupportive and flexible working practices that aim to reconcile the pressures of work and home life (Eurofound, 2017).
Work-life balance policies and reconciling work and care
Work-life balance policies and reconciling work and care
(Work-life balance policies and reconciling work and care)
- Author(s):Gerd NAEGELE
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Labor relations, Demography and human biology, Socio-Economic Research
- Page Range:11-15
- No. of Pages:5
- Keywords:Work-life balance; work and care; demography;
- Summary/Abstract:Policies subsumed under the umbrella of work-life balance respond to both the increasing importance of private life in work and retirement (as explicitly taken up in the concept of workability and employability) andto changes in work-related private needs and motivations, which to a great extent are the result of overall social, demographic and political changes (Naegele et al., 2003).
Working conditions at different ages: a sustainable work perspective
Working conditions at different ages: a sustainable work perspective
(Working conditions at different ages: a sustainable work perspective)
- Author(s):Oscar Vargas
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Labor relations, Health and medicine and law, Socio-Economic Research
- Page Range:16-21
- No. of Pages:6
- Keywords:Working conditions; sustainable work; workers of different ages; work-life balance; health;
- Summary/Abstract:Demographic ageing implies a greater participation of older people in the labour market. To enable this, it is important to examine the factors thatcan facilitate or hinder extended working lives. Making work more sustainable over the life course requires working conditions that support individuals to remain in work until the statutory retirement age.
Working conditions and the length of working lives
Working conditions and the length of working lives
(Working conditions and the length of working lives)
- Author(s):Mikkel Barslund, Andreas Cebulla, Jacob Gareth Stauning Prewett
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Labor relations, Human Resources in Economy, Socio-Economic Research
- Page Range:22-26
- No. of Pages:5
- Keywords:Working conditions; length of working lives; human resource management policies;
- Summary/Abstract:This chapter focuses on the extent to which improvements in human resource (HR) management policies can play a role in extending working lives.10 HR policies – such as workplace and age management practices – can be valuable tools to discourage older workers from retiring early, and tomotivate and incentivise those close to retirement age to stay in work longer (D’Addio et al., 2010; Thorsen et al., 2012).
Socio-economic inequalities in mortality and health
Socio-economic inequalities in mortality and health
(Socio-economic inequalities in mortality and health)
- Author(s):Tobias Göllner, Johannes Klotz
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Labor relations, Health and medicine and law, Human Resources in Economy, Socio-Economic Research
- Page Range:27-31
- No. of Pages:5
- Keywords:Socio-economic inequalities; health; retirement age; labor research;
- Summary/Abstract:In an era of demographic ageing, pension reforms that aim to increase the effective retirement age have come to the fore. However, mortality differences between socio-economic subgroups are not necessarily reflected in this policy discourse.
Extending working lives through flexible retirement schemes
Extending working lives through flexible retirement schemes
(Extending working lives through flexible retirement schemes)
- Author(s):Hans Dubois
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Labor relations, Human Resources in Economy, Socio-Economic Research
- Page Range:32-37
- No. of Pages:6
- Keywords:working lives; retirement schemes; labour research; socio-economic research;
- Summary/Abstract:Governments, social partners and pension funds in the EU have taken measures to increase the sustainability of their pension systems. These measures come with challenges. Pensions have been cut or contributions have increased. Inevitably, such measures have intergenerational distributional impacts; they also decrease pension adequacy, or put pressure on wage cost or disposable income. Furthermore, the statutory pension age has risen and early retirementis discouraged.
Skill mismatch among older workers and workplace performance in Britain
Skill mismatch among older workers and workplace performance in Britain
(Skill mismatch among older workers and workplace performance in Britain)
- Author(s):Lucy Stokes, David Wilkinson, Andreas Cebulla, Nathan HUDSON-SHARP
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Labor relations, Human Resources in Economy, Socio-Economic Research
- Page Range:38-43
- No. of Pages:6
- Keywords:Workers and workplace performance; Britain; labor relations; employment;
- Summary/Abstract:One of the key responses to population ageing in the UK has been an increase in the state pension age, which has created an expectation that older workers stayin employment for longer. For employers, one important consideration when retaining and recruiting older rather than younger workers is the relative productivity of these workers. Whilst the empirical evidence on the relationship between age and productivity is inconclusive, the evidence for the vulnerabilityof older workers in the labour market is strong. Van Dalen et al. (2010) found that both employers and employees rate the productivity of older workers substantially lower than that of younger workers, but they have different desirable attributes and skills.
Skills mismatch among older workers
Skills mismatch among older workers
(Skills mismatch among older workers)
- Author(s):Eduard Stöger, Jakob Peterbauer, Markus Bönisch
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Labor relations, Socio-Economic Research
- Page Range:44-50
- No. of Pages:7
- Keywords:Skills mismatch; older workers; labour market; job satisfaction; skill learning;
- Summary/Abstract:Skills are viewed as a major component of knowledge-based economies. On an individual level, skills can support labour market success and can have an effect on earnings and job satisfaction (Hanushek et al., 2014). But skills must be used efficiently to generate these positive labour market outcomes. If this is not the case, skill mismatch occurs. This means that workers either do not meet the skills required at their workplace (under-skilled / over-utilisation) orhave higher skills than needed (over-skilled / under-utilisation).
Changing patterns of older workers’ employment: evidence from Austria, Germany and the UK
Changing patterns of older workers’ employment: evidence from Austria, Germany and the UK
(Changing patterns of older workers’ employment: evidence from Austria, Germany and the UK)
- Author(s):Charlotte FECHTER, Werner SESSELMEIER
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Labor relations, Socio-Economic Research
- Page Range:51-56
- No. of Pages:6
- Keywords:older workers' employment; workforce adjustments; retirement scheme;
- Summary/Abstract:Due to high unemployment rates and large restructuring of traditional industries (e.g. coal, mining) it was common practice in the late 1970sand 1980s to carry out workforce adjustments through early retirement schemes. This policy changed in the early 2000s, towards a focus on Active Ageing and maintaining older workers in the workforce (European Commission, 2004).
What factors drive longer working lives?
What factors drive longer working lives?
(What factors drive longer working lives?)
- Author(s):Mikkel Barslund, Gilles Thirion
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Labor relations, Human Resources in Economy, Socio-Economic Research
- Page Range:57-62
- No. of Pages:6
- Keywords:Ageing workforce; labour market;
- Summary/Abstract:Longer working lives are a prerequisite for sustainable public finances at a time of rapidly ageing societies (Barslund and von Werder, 2016). For this reason, keeping people active on the labour market for longer has been a central pillar of labour market policy in EU countries for the past two decades. And, as is evident from a number of chapters in this book, the issue will continue to shape prospective labour market policy. Labour market participation rates of older workers (55 to 69 years) have in fact increased steadily for both men and women in most EU countries in this period (Figure 21).
Active ageing: much more than paid work
Active ageing: much more than paid work
(Active ageing: much more than paid work)
- Author(s):Alan Walker
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Labor relations, Demography and human biology, Human Resources in Economy, Socio-Economic Research
- Page Range:63-68
- No. of Pages:6
- Keywords:active ageing; paid work; working longer; working lives; Europe;
- Summary/Abstract:Active ageing is firmly established as the leading global policy strategy response to population ageing. In practice, however, the term ‘active ageing’ provides a convenient slogan for a wide range of policy discourses and initiatives concerning the impact of demographic change, only some of which are worthy of the label. In particular, a productivist ideology which reduces active ageing to working longer has come to dominate these discourses.
