Brussels Briefing - Better jobs, longer careers: The role of job quality in retaining older workers

This briefing, by invitation only, was an opportunity to hear from Eurofound’s research experts Franz Ferdinand Eiffe and Karel Fric about the latest findings on older workers. Building on Eurofound’s body of research findings and analysis going back for 25 years, the briefing shared recent employment developments, highlighting job quality differences across various age groups.

Eurofound’s experts explored questions, such as:

• How can older workers be encouraged to remain in the labour market until their pension age?

• What new thinking – at company, national and EU level – is emerging in terms of promoting employment opportunities for older workers?

• How can we make work sustainable, to support people engaging and remaining in work throughout an extended working life?

This off-the-record event gave stakeholders an opportunity to engage directly with Eurofound experts on the most recent data and analysis. After the opening and a short presentation, the schedule included a Q&A and an exchange of ideas with the audience.

Background

The European labour market is undergoing a significant shift as the workforce ages. Later retirement, better health and increased life expectancy is driving a rise in the number of employees aged 55 or older – from 23.8 million in 2010 to more than 40 million in 2024. As a result, older workers are playing a crucial role in the labour market, with many choosing to continue working beyond traditional retirement age. At the same time, however, many older workers are leaving the labour market well before the legal pension age, often in good health and valuing their jobs – representing an important untapped potential.

Valuing job autonomy and discretion, older workers are more likely to stay in employment when they have opportunities for learning and development; hence, good job quality is essential in making work sustainable and retaining older employees.

In practice, many older workers face barriers to remaining engaged in the labour market. Ageist attitudes amongst employers are still widespread across EU Member States, hence older workers face age discrimination in the recruitment market and in the workplace; in addition, they are less likely to avail of training and development opportunities. By addressing these challenges, and by prioritising job quality, policymakers and employers can create a more supportive, age-appropriate work environment that benefits both older workers and the economy.

Attendance is by invitation only. For any queries about the briefing, please contact Cristina Arigho.

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