Promotion of work ability during ageing

Abstract

The aging of the work force is a global phenomenon. The main reasons for this historical change are (i) the large baby boom generation born in the 1940s-1950s is entering its 50s, and (ii) the subsequent generations have been relatively small. For example, in the European Union (EU) the relative proportion of those aged 50-64 years will be about 27% of the entire work force in 2005. In 2025, this proportion will approach 35%. During the same period, the youngest part of the work force, those aged 15-24 years, will decline, and form only 17% of the EU work force. As a consequence, there will be potentially double the number of older workers as compared to younger workers in the EU over the next 25 years (Eurostat, New Cronos 1998).