Participation of Elderly People into Labour Market: Possibilities,

Attitudes and Motivation Case of Lithuania

Prof.dr. Leta DromantienėMykolas Romeris University

Vilnius, Lithuania

Main data

2012• 3 199 771 inhabitants;• 20.4 % over 60 years old• Unemployment rate – 14.5 %• Inflation – 2.5 %• GDP growth – 3.9

Employment rate:15-64: 63.6%50-69: 49.6%

75,30%

67,30%

31%

10,70%

0,00%

10,00%

20,00%

30,00%

40,00%

50,00%

60,00%

70,00%

80,00%

50-54 55-59 60-64 65-69

Employment rate %

Social assistance to unemployed

Passive means:• social assistance benefits;• early retirement pensions;• disability pensions, etc.,Active means:• knowledge updating and requalification

courses, etc.

Reasons for the ageing of the work force

• Baby boom after the second world war;• The low birth rates began in1980s------------------------------------------------------• The low participation rates of ageing

workers;• Declining labour supply

Expected proportion of two different age groups of workers (15–24 years, and 50–64 years) from the entire workforce (15-66 years) in the EU over the next 25 years.

Ilmarinen J E Occup Environ Med 2001;58:546-546

©2001 by BMJ Publishing Group Ltd

Main conclusions from EU statistics on ageing

• There will be more potential aging (50 years and over) workers in the work force than ever before

• Workers aged 50 years and older will comprise the largest proportion (> 30%) of the work force during the next 25 years

• There will be fewer younger workers (25 years and younger) in the work force than ever before

• The work force participation rates of workers 55 years of age and over is declining greatly

• The age dependency ratios will increase greatly during the next 15–25 years

Motivation of elder employees to stay in labour market in Lithuania

• 70 % - need update knowledge• 52 % - need flexible time table• 51% - need better working conditions;• 78.8 % - financial need is the most

important factor;• 14.3% - work because want to increase

retirement pension;• 5.5% - work because of not financial

reasons and for self-expression;• 48.9 % - social interests

The main reasons of elder people declining participation in labour market

• Lack of open-mindedness and receptivity to innovations;

• More complicated adaptability to changes;• Worsen health according with age;• Stereotypes in society;• Increasing supply of specialists and

competition among them

Possible measures

• learning at work place;• health care, risk prevention at work place;• personal employment plan;• consultations;• subsidy of employers;• change attitudes in society towards ageing

of employees

Thank you for your attention !