es.euronews.com
EU Working Life Expectancy Varies Widely Across Countries
The average expected working life in the EU is 37.2 years in 2024, a 7% increase since 2014, but varies significantly across countries, ranging from 30.2 years in Turkey to 46.3 years in Iceland, due to factors like labor demand, pension systems, and age discrimination.
- What are the key factors contributing to the significant differences in expected working life across Europe?
- The average expected working life in the EU increased by 2.4 years (7%) between 2014 and 2024, reaching 37.2 years. This varies significantly across the EU, ranging from 32.7 years in Romania to 43.8 years in the Netherlands. Including EU candidates and EFTA countries expands the range to 30.2 years in Turkey and 46.3 years in Iceland.
- How do pension systems and retirement regulations influence the average working life in different European countries?
- Northern and Western European countries generally have longer working lives, exceeding 40 years in several cases, while Southern and Eastern European countries tend to have shorter working lives, often below the EU average. This disparity reflects factors such as labor demand, pension systems, age discrimination, and family models.
- What are the potential long-term societal and economic impacts of the observed variations in expected working life across Europe?
- The significant variation in expected working life across Europe is attributed to a combination of economic factors (labor demand), institutional contexts (pension regulations, retirement age), and social factors (age discrimination, family models). Future trends will likely depend on evolving demographics, economic conditions, and pension reforms, potentially widening or narrowing existing disparities.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The article presents a relatively balanced overview of working life expectancy across Europe, showcasing both high and low figures without overtly favoring any specific region or viewpoint. The geographic comparison (North, West, South, East) is clear and provides context. The headline, if any, would influence the framing; however, it's not available in the text provided.
Bias by Omission
The article focuses primarily on the variation in expected working life across Europe but omits discussion of potential contributing factors like healthcare systems, social safety nets, and overall economic conditions. While it mentions age discrimination and family models, a more comprehensive analysis incorporating other socio-economic factors would enrich the understanding. The lack of data for some countries (e.g., UK) also limits a complete picture.
Gender Bias
The analysis doesn't explicitly mention gender bias. However, it would be beneficial to examine if gender roles or expectations contribute to variations in working life expectancy across different countries. The article could be improved by including statistics on gender-specific working life expectancy.
Sustainable Development Goals
The article highlights a rising life expectancy and consequently, longer working lives across the EU. This positively impacts decent work and economic growth by increasing the workforce participation rate and overall productivity. The longer working lives, especially in Northern and Western European countries, contribute to economic growth and sustained development. However, disparities across the EU indicate challenges in ensuring decent work opportunities for all.