The Midcareer Opportunity: Meeting the Challenges of an Ageing Workforce
The world of work is getting older in advanced economies and increasingly in many emerging ones. Today people between the ages of 45 and 64 account for some 40 percent of the working-age population in OECD countries, up from 28 percent in 1990. Two powerful and persistent trends – longer lifespans and lower birth rates – all but guarantee that the average age of the workforce will continue to rise. The implications are profound for the labour market, government finances, healthcare and welfare systems, and millions of midcareer workers.
Are business executives, policymakers and citizens adapting quickly enough to cope with ageing on a scale never before seen in human history? What are the structural barriers, the embedded attitudes and behaviours, that stand in the way of helping more midcareer and older workers stay employed longer? As the world transitions to a more digital and sustainable labour market, what achievable steps could stakeholders take now to support midcareer and older workers looking to progress their careers or switch jobs when wanted or necessitated?
In search of answers, the OECD and Generation teamed up to undertake new research, which will be presented during this event. The report focuses primarily on Europe that, along with parts of East Asia, sits squarely at the epicentre of ageing’s economic impact. In late 2022 a detailed survey was conducted of 6,029 employed and unemployed people (aged 18–65) and 1,510 hiring managers in eight countries across Europe and the United States.
Join us for an in-person event hosted by the OECD in which we will:
- Highlight the most exciting findings from our recent midcareer research
- Explore employer and government perspectives on an ageing workforce
- Share recommendations that can mitigate ageist bias in hiring practices
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The survey work carried out by Generation was made possible through the support of Google.org for the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Romania, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom, and the support of Clayton Dubilier & Rice for the United States.
