Is There any Demand For the Workers Aged 50+ in Poland?

Anita Richert-Kaźmierska

doi:10.12775/equil.2013.023

Abstract

The process of ageing affects all the European Union Member States, including Poland. According to forecasts by the Central Statistical Office, in 2035, the population of Poland will decrease in relation to 2010 by more than 2 million, and the share of people aged 50+ in the total population will increase from 34.8% to 46.6% (Prognoza ludności 2009). In the context of current and projected demographic changes, a discussion is taking place and actions are taken to – on the one hand – extend the period of Poles' economic activity and – one the other hand – implement age management systems in enterprises, enabling the efficient exploitation of the potential of workers aged 50+. The paper considers the problem of the situation of people aged 50+ in the Polish labour market. The main objective is to find out whether in Poland there is a need for the work performed by people aged 50+. The employers' views on workers 50+ and the possibilities and conditions of employment of this group are presented. The paper uses and confronts statistics related to the labour market (BAEL) and the results of quantitative and qualitative research carried out by selected Polish research centres within the framework of projects co-financed from EU funds.

Highlights

The progressive ageing of the Polish population has specific consequences of economic nature
The actions which have been taken at the macro level of the economy for several years are aimed at mitigating the effects of unfavourable demographic changes and building public awareness and responsibility in this regard
In recent years three government programs dedicated to improving the situation of older workers in the labour market were developed: Is There any Demand For the Workers Aged 50+... 125

Summary

Introduction

The progressive ageing of the Polish population has specific consequences of economic nature These relate mainly to the public finance system The active participation of the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy in the European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations (ER2012) was the motivation for changing the stereotypical image of older people in the society and the launch of a wider public debate on demographic change (National Action Plan 2012). 50 plus – a programme for the employment of people over 50 years of age (Ministry of Economy and Labour in 2004), 45/50 plus – an action programme for promotion of employment, alleviation of unemployment consequences and economic activation of senior non-mobile workers (Ministry of Labour and Social Policy in 2008), Solidarność Pokoleń programme – measures to increase the activity of people aged over 50 (Council of Ministers in 2008). The paper uses and confronts statistics related to the labour market and the results of quantitative and qualitative research carried out by the selected Polish research centres within the framework of projects cofinanced from EU funds

Methodology

Findings

Conclusions