Intergenerational solidarity

The paper explores the relationship between population ageing and working life, by providing an updated overview of population ageing from a global viewpoint and from multiple perspectives. Thanks to medical and technological progress, nowadays many health problems can be cured, but this wellbeing runs the risk of being only partial and potential if it is not accompanied by changes in policies and commitments in the workplace and within organisations. State retirement ages are increasingly raised for both pension system sustainability and active ageing reasons. The research, which is contextualised in the frame of intergenerational solidarity, discusses the main mechanisms of inclusion of older workers, with benefits for young generations too. Using Eurostat data, the paper highlights the fallacious assumptions that the employment of older people decreases the amount of jobs available for younger generation. On these grounds, the paper highlights the importance of a holistic approach, requiring an integrated support by policy-makers, firms and non-profit organisations, in order to promote the redistribution of education/training, work and income between younger and older people.