Average Belgian worker over 40

15 March 2007

BRUSSELS – For the first time in history the average age of Belgian workers is above 40. Belgian businesses are still failing to take adequate measures to cope with the ageing of the work force.

This emerged from a European study by the Adecco Institute, a think-tank that carries out studies into the future of employment.

The results of the study were presented during the European Business Summit in Brussels on Thursday, an important event for European business leaders and politicians.

The work population is getting older. There will be 50 percent more people in their 50s working in Belgium by 2020, and 50 percent more people in their sixties than in the year 2000.

At the same time there will be fewer younger people on the labour market, Adecco warns. There will be 20 percent fewer workers in their 30s by 2020, and 12 percent fewer workers in their 20s, in comparison to the number on the labour market in 2000.

Belgium will also have 10 percent fewer children (under 19 years of age) by 2020.

The proportion of older people in employment is not looking good for Belgium at the moment. Some 30 percent of people 55 and over still work. In the Netherlands for example that percentage is 40 percent. “Furthermore the average retirement age in Belgium is 58, compared to 62 in the Netherlands,” said Mark De Smedt, managing director of Adecco Benelux.

Subject: Belgian news