[Demographic change, job market development and employment perspectives of elderly workers]

Demographic change will also have a strong influence on the labor market. The rate of younger employees is decreasing and the average age of the workforce is increasing. This does not imply, however, that the chances for older employees in the labor market will improve or that their working-life will be prolonged. As long as the labor market situation is difficult, the trend towards early retirement cannot be reversed. An increase in unemployment figures would be the consequence. But since employers will have to rely on the productivity of older employees after the turn of the millenium, action has to be undertaken now to promote the employment-related opportunities of older persons. Flexible working time arrangements and part-time work for older employees in particular could be good measures to increase the retirement age and to reduce working time in total.