EU day of solidarity between generations, 2011
The European Day of Solidarity between Generations is celebrated each year on 29 April. Eurofound's recent work on employment issues for young and older people is highlighted as particularly relevant on this day.
Helping young workers during the crisis: contributions by social partners and public authorities
Young workers in Europe have long faced many difficulties in their transition into the labour market and particularly in finding secure employment. The financial crisis of 2008 has worsened this situation significantly. Though there are important regional and sectoral variations, national debates as to the causes of these problems focus on a complex interaction of labour market structures, skills training, access to vocational training and apprenticeships, education systems, and reduction of job openings.
Older people and volunteering
Older people have typically been seen as the beneficiaries of voluntary activities. However, increasing attention is also being paid to the contribution and potential of older people as voluntary workers. This reorientation in perspectives – from older people as recipients to providers – reflects new social and economic conditions in Europe, but is strongly driven by growing awareness of demographic change. Increasingly, policymakers are seeing the need to engage this older population in volunteering.
Social partners debate older retirement
In December 2010, the German government published its first report on increasing the statutory retirement age to 67 years. While it intends to maintain changes introduced in 2007, which raised the age from 65, the German Metalworkers' Union has called for retirement at 67 to be abandoned.
Part-time pensioners have long careers
A new report from the Finnish Centre for Pensions uses data from pension registers to study the characteristics of recipients of part-time pensions who retired between 2005 and 2009. The study found that those retiring on a part-time pension had a higher income than their peers.
Older workers face discrimination
Annual surveys carried out by Synovate for the Centre for Senior Policy since 2003 have revealed perceived age discrimination among older employees in Norway. The 2010 survey found that, although the prevalence of age discrimination is still lower than seven years ago, it increased in 2010 compared with 2009.
Employers consider employees 'old' at age 58.5
According to a study by the Ministry of Employment' statistics arm, Dares, the attitude of French employers towards older workers has changed: employers now believe an employee is ‘old' at age 58.5 compared with 55 in a similar study carried out in 2001.
Company initiatives for workers with care responsibilities for disabled children or adults - Working paper
The interactions between employment and caring are becoming increasingly important in the face of demographic ageing in Europe. Already, a sizeable proportion of the workforce (both men and women) must balance their paid employment with caring responsibilities, and vice versa, and this looks set to increase considerably over the coming years.
Demographic change and work in Europe
Demographic change is, without any doubt, one of the megatrends that will influence Europe in many ways during the next decades. The European Council and the European Commission have recognised this for some years now and it has even been reflected in the EU Treaty. This report focuses on the most relevant probable effects of demographic change on work in Europe - a shrinking workforce and the changing composition of this workforce.
Social partners discuss employment of ageing workforce
Within the framework of the EU project Ageing Workforce 2, a conference entitled ‘Ageing workforce – a challenge or a threat’ took place in Bratislava. Delegates analysed the reality of the situation faced by companies and offered their views on Slovakia’s ageing workforce.