Employment of older workers grows slowly in Europe as the retirement age rises

The employment rate among the over-55s is growing steadily as a result of the gradual rise in the retirement age in most European countries. The rate of employment remains, however, significantly lower than that for the 45-54 age group. This reflects the difficulty of getting and keeping older workers in employment. Our comparison of 31 European countries shows that the countries that emphasize lifelong learning and quality of life at work have the highest employment rates for older workers.

Through Nathalie Tran avec Rudy Degardin. Published on 16 September 2024 à 14h57 - Update on 23 September 2024 à 16h01

The gradual pushing back of the retirement age that has begun in most European countries is still ongoing, with a resultant increase in the employment rate of employees over 55, though to varying degrees depending on the country. For most of these, the target age is 65 in 2031. Denmark, whose statutory retirement age is currently 67, is setting the bar even higher, with plans to push it back to 69. Only Greece (with 40 insurance years) and Norway (on condition of being able to claim a certain pension level) will maintain the possibility of retirement at 62, excluding early retirement. The objective of raising the retirement age is the same everywhere: to meet the challenge of demographic change in order to ensure the financial viability of pension systems.

Direct impact on the employment rate of older people

“Increasing the retirement age or the number of years you have to work to qualify for the full pension rate is the number one factor in increasing the employment rate of older people. This is particularly true in France,…

Nathalie Tran avec Rudy Degardin

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