KOZ: Slovakia Ageing and Labour Market Feeling It, Age Management Is Solution

Bratislava, 24 July (TASR) – The Slovak population is ageing, and this is already being felt in the labour market, which is seeing fewer and fewer young people entering it, while older generations are moving into retirement age, the Trade Union Confederation (KOZ) has pointed out on a social network, noting that age management could be the solution. In 2000, the average age of an economically active man was 37.5 years, while in 2021 it was 42.3. The average age of workers is rising, with an average of almost 45 years expected by 2035. "There will be more and more workers over the age of 55, and their share should soon reach 25 percent. This places completely new demands on working conditions, work organisation and the approach taken by employers," said KOZ. According to KOZ, the risks in the labour market include mass early retirements, which increase pressure on certain sectors. A shortage of skilled workers is currently evident in areas where the difference between the youngest and oldest sectors is almost ten years. One solution could be a national project called Age Management - work adapted to stages of life, which is currently being launched by the Sector Councils Alliance, of which KOZ is a member. The trade unionists added that the project will measure the work capacity of 15,600 employees in all sectors of the economy and support from employers in creating working conditions that take into account the age of employees and develop model approaches to age management for each sector. am/df