New Eurofound report: Working conditions of an ageing workforce
Improving working conditions leads to better job sustainability over the lifecycle, which in turn can prevent early exit from the labour market and encourage stronger participation rates among older workers. This is one of the findings from the fourth European Working Conditions Survey carried out in 31 countries, including the 27 EU Member States, published May 6 by Eurofound.
The report highlights four factors which are key to shaping the age structure of Europe's workforce: ensuring career and employment security; maintaining and promoting the health and well-being of workers; developing skills and competencies; and reconciling working and non-working life. The findings show that improving working conditions leads to better job sustainability over the lifecycle, which in turn can prevent early exit from the labour market and encourage stronger participation rates among older workers.
Another finding is that the youngest and oldest age groups face the highest risk of discrimination in the workplace, although there has been a slight decrease in the proportion of workers who report having been subjected to age discrimination, in particular younger workers. Interestingly, a positive correlation emerges between education and skill levels and age discrimination, with the less-educated and skilled workers reporting lower levels of discrimination.