Active ageing and solidarity between generations - European Year 2012
2012 is the European year of active ageing and solidarity between generations. It offers us all a chance to reflect on how Europeans are living longer and staying healthier than ever before — and to realise the opportunities that represents. During the course of 2012 Eurofound will bring you more data, research findings and policy-pointers on active ageing, providing you with insights into developments at EU, national and company level.
14 February 2012 It's not just about ageing! Young people and solidarity between generations
Increasing the participation of young people in the labour market has become an urgent policy goal and in recent times the focus has been directed at the ‘NEET’ group – young people ‘not in employment, education and training’.
- Young people and NEETs in Europe: First findings
Young people in Europe have been hit particularly hard by the recession. According to the latest Eurostat figures, in the first quarter of 2011 the youth employment rate in Europe dropped to 32.9%, the lowest value ever recorded in the history of the European Union. - Recent policy developments related to those not in employment, education and training (NEETs)
Experts from the ‘European Restructuring Monitor’ (ERM) network looked at public and social partner based measures aimed at re-engaging young NEETs (aged 15–29 years) in 28 European countries. They found that, given the diversity of the NEET population, Member States have adopted policy measures addressing various NEET sub-groups in order to provide more tailored and personalised support.
6 February 2012 Launch event in Germany
At the launch of the European Year of Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations in Berlin today, Robert Anderson will provide participants with an overview of social support systems and retirement ages in EU Member States, company initiatives for people with care responsibilities of family members, and the role of social partners in providing a sustainable extension of the working life to tackle the demographic challenges facing Europe. His presentation – in German - is available.
24 January 2012 Watch the video: Volunteering and care in the 2012 European Year of Active Ageing
Volunteering and care are issues that have not yet been covered in the discussions around the 2012 European Year of Active Ageing. On volunteering, Eurofound's research show that people with higher incomes register a higher participation in volunteering, as do those with higher levels of educational attainment and better health. There is no strong association with gender but men in the EU15 tend to report higher levels of participation than women. While age is not a major factor, it does appear – in terms of broad age groups – that people aged between 35 and 64 are more likely to volunteer than those who are younger or older.
18 January 2012 Watch the video: Working longer, living better
13 January 2012 New Eurobarometer survey
To mark the start of the 2012 European Year of Active Ageing and Solidarity of Generations, the Commission presented today a new Eurobarometer survey showing that 71% of Europeans are aware that Europe's population is getting older, but only 42% are concerned about this development. This is in stark contrast with the perceptions of policy makers, who regard demographic ageing as a major challenge. Most citizens (over 60%) believe that we should be allowed to continue working after retirement age and one third says that they would like to work longer themselves.
12 January 2012 Opening conference: 'Stay active - what does it take?'
At the opening conference on 18 January 2012 in Copenhagen, under the Danish EU Presidency, Eurofound's Donald Storrie will speak on the topic of 'Senior citizens on the labour market - the need and potential of reforms'. By 2030, the old age dependency ratio will stand at over 30% in all Member States except Ireland. How should Europe handle the issues that raises?
10 January 2012 Impact of the recession on age management policies
In relative terms, the economic crisis that began in 2008 did not have a negative impact on the employment rate of older workers in the selection of states studied. In the majority of the 9 EU Member States covered in this study on age management policies, employment rates increased for older workers while they decreased for all other age groups.