Prerequisites for Active Ageing ETUC conference EY2012: Improving solidarity between the generations and active ageing overcoming obstacles to older people remaining in work and facilitating access to the job market for younger people Larnaca, Cyprus, 4-5 October Hans Dubois Eurofound
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1) Surveys European Working Conditions Survey 1991, 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010 European Quality of Life Survey 2003, 2007, 2011 European Company Survey 2004, 2009 2) Observatories Working conditions Restructuring Industrial relations 3) Analytical studies, including case studies 09/10/2012 3
Examples of Eurofound research related to Active Ageing 1996-7: Age barriers in employment 2004-6: Employment initiatives for an ageing workforce Database of good practice - 200 company case studies Report on developments over last decade 2007: Working conditions of an ageing workforce 2010: Older workers and company restructuring in recession 2011: Company initiatives for workers with care responsibilities Volunteering by older people 2012: Income from work after retirement 09/10/2012 4
Active Ageing Active ageing is the process of optimizing opportunities for health, participation and security in order to enhance quality of life as people age. Source: WHO, http://www.who.int/ageing/active_ageing/en/index.html Not only paid work! Also: volunteering, caring, home work, learning and leisuring activities Not only physical! Not only at old age! 09/10/2012 5
1) Work Agenda Prerequisites - policy implications 2) Caring Prerequisites - policy implications 3) Volunteering Prerequisites - policy implications 09/10/2012 6
Work
Increase (%-points) in employment rates 2011 vs 2007, age groups (EU27) 3 2 1,9 1 0-1 20-24 25-49 50-64 -2-1,8-3 -4-5 -6-5,2 09/10/2012 8 Source: Eurostat s LFS, online database
6 Increase (%-points) in employment rates 2011 vs 2007, female vs male (EU27) 4 3,6 2 0-2 0,3 Female Male Female -0,4 Male Female Male 20-24 25-49 50-64 -4-4,0-3,2-6 -6,2-8 09/10/2012 9
Not necessarily good news for older people Higher employment rate among women below 50 in 2007 moved to the next age cohort in 2011 (many may have lost jobs) For some countries (e.g. Ireland) and sectors (e.g. construction) employment rates dropped largely also for older workers Older workers are less likely to get unemployed, but if they do, they experience particular difficulty in finding a new job (EQLS 2011; Karpinska 2011) Some started to work, or postponed retirement, because of financial need
POLICY CONTEXT Projected change 2005-2050 in the WAP and the share of older people (55-64) in the WAP 09/10/2012 11
Pension adequacy & sustainability concerns Demographic dependency ratio, for 1 person aged 65+: 2010: 4 aged 15-64 2020: 3 aged 15-64 Concerns about pension adequacy and sustainability While important to take this development into account
Demographic dependency ratios are hard to predict in the long run (immigration, fertility), vary regionally, were a concern already decades ago (e.g. World Bank 1992), and tend to focus on the peak do not take into account potentially: decreased unemployment & inactivity among 15-64 (Wöss & Türk, 2011) NEETs: young people not in employment education or training characteristics, costs and policy responses in Europe (Eurofound 2012, forthcoming 22 October): 14 million aged 15-29 (half unemployed, half inactive)
fears of the increased ratio of 65+ vs 15-64 also do not take into account: productivity number of dependent children and...
14 12 10 %-point increase employment rate 65-69 year olds 2005Q1 vs 2012Q1 8 6 4 2 0-2 -4-6 More than 1 out of 10 Europeans between 65-69 does paid work. Up from 8.6% (2005Q1) to 10.7% (2012Q1).
The drivers a) Need Strength of each driver s impact depends on individual & regional situations. Prerequisites: - Enough accessible, suitable jobs - No discrimination & good regulation -Skills WORK? Prerequisites: - Good health - Interesting work past & perspectives b) Interest Source: Eurofound (2012, forthcoming mid-october 2012) Income from work after retirement in the EU. Soon available on http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/
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Longer run: adaptation of pension systems, increased employment among younger cohorts and increased productivity can contribute to solving inadequacy More immediate: retirees have been up-taking paid work For 65+ who work in the EU27, 44% of their income comes from work (52% for 65-69 year olds) (2009) For ¼: less than 15% of their income, 1/5: 80% of their income. Not only because of financial need, but also because many want to work after the retirement age Source: Eurofound (2012, forthcoming mid-october 2012) Income from work after retirement in the EU. Soon available on http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/
B) INTEREST 33% wants to continue working after official retirement age, especially those closer to retirement Source: Special Eurobarometer 378 19
Of the 1/10 of Europeans who work after retirement: around 1/5: only because of financial need Usually, it is a mix of motivations: contribute to society learning social connection with clients & colleagues allow higher material living standards Source: Eurofound (2012, forthcoming mid-october 2012) Income from work after retirement in the EU. Soon available on http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/
Portugal Greece France Hungary Croatia Spain Poland Bulgaria Luxembourg Slovakia Malta Czech Republic Lithuania Romania Austria Belgium Latvia EU27 Estonia Italy Cyprus Finland Sweden United Kingdom Denmark Ireland Germany Netherlands 80% 70% Workers thinking they will be able to do their current jobs at the age of 60 (Eurofound s EWCS, 2010) 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%
Company measures to promote work ability of older workers Health promotion Work design and organisation Work ability Training and skills developments (Ilmarinen and Tempel, 2002) HR management and corporate culture 09/10/2012 22
Key factors related to perceived job sustainability Strong negative impact: Exposure to ergonomic risks: posture and movement related risks (standing, carrying heavy loads, repetitive arm movements etc.) Experience of discrimination, violence, abuse, bullying or harassment Rather strong positive impact: Work life balance Career prospects Also important: not having monotonous tasks; cognitive dimensions of work; autonomy (protective role); work intensity (deterrent role) 09/10/2012 23
Lifelong learning: training among workers (2010) 26% On-the-job training 32% 40% Paid by employer 30% 33% 36% 50+ 30 to 49 Under 30 8% Paid by themselves 9% 8% 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% Source: European Working Conditions Survey (2010) http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/surveys/smt/ewcs/results.htm
Prerequisites - policy pointers promoting 'employability' over whole life course stimulate intergenerational mentoring & training fight age (old & young) related stereotypes avoid exposure to ergonomic risks flexible working arrangements, e.g. partial retirement schemes stimulate work-to-work arrangements Improve career prospects and work life balance 09/10/2012 25
Caring The sandwich generation 1) Parents & 2) Children and grandchildren (Source: TILDA, 2011) - Also: partners
Grandparents who look after grandchildren (regularly, or occasionally) Source: Herlofson, Hagestad, Slagsvold & Sørensen (2011, p. 78)
Provision of daily (or almost daily) grandchildren care among grandparents who look after grandchildren Source: Herlofson, Hagestad, Slagsvold & Sørensen (2011, p. 78)
Flexibility needed: Reconciliation of caring and working in an ageing workforce 80% of care hours are provided by unpaid (family) carers In nearly all countries more than half of carers of working age combine care with employment 6%-10% of employees are providing regular care, especially older (female) workers (13%-16%) Older workforce is becoming more and more female Source: Eurofound (2011) Company initiatives for workers with care responsibilities for disabled children or adults. Dublin: Eurofound. 09/10/2012 29
Policy implications Prerequisites policy implications benefits, information, flexible care services, flexible working times, and leave entitlements Important for various reasons increase labour participation (facilitate work for older carers or/and their children)
Volunteering
Involved in voluntary and charitable activities outside of paid work (50-64 year olds) Source: EQLS (2007) online survey mapping tool. 2011 results will be released in the Overview Report on 29 November 09/10/2012 32
Spend the right amount of time in voluntary work or political activities? (50-64 year olds) Source: EQLS (2007) online survey mapping tool. 2011 results will be released in the Overview Report on 29 November 09/10/2012 33
Prerequisites policy implications (Just as with work,) people are more likely to volunteer when they are old if they did so when they were young: try to stimulate over the lifetime showing appreciation e.g. awards, matching competences & tasks, awareness, reimbursing cost)* But: be aware of potentially replacing paid work Important for various reasons Reduces social exclusion among volunteers, and among receivers of services Services provided by volunteers contribute to society *Source: Eurofound (2011), Volunteering by older people in the EU
Overall conclusions Prerequisites for active ageing environment that offers opportunities good working conditions, - throughout working life good health - improved, but not for equally for all groups, - be aware of impact crisis, - in turn also depends on conditions and activity throughout life life-long learning stimulate dialogue between worker & employer facilitate care responsibilities & volunteering 09/10/2012 35
Thank you! Hans.Dubois@eurofound.europa.eu Dublin www.eurofound.europa.eu 09/10/2012 36