France must do more to promote quality jobs for older workers, says OECD | WPN World People News

Promoting quality employment for older workers is crucial to boosting growth and ensuring a financially sustainable pension system, according to a new OECD report on ageing and employment policies in France.

Working Better with Age in France emphasises that the transition from employment to retirement comes especially early and poses problems for many older workers. Between 2008 and 2011, only 55% of older people went directly from employment to retirement. The others experienced periods of unemployment, in many cases long-term, at the end of their careers.

France ranks nearly last among OECD countries for the effective retirement age. In 2012, this was estimated at 59.7 for men and 60.0 for women, versus respective averages of 64.2 and 63.3 across the OECD area as a whole.

Even if the employment of older people has risen slightly in France, as it did in almost every OECD country during the crisis, the employment rate for 55 to 64-year-olds is still below international averages: in 2012, 44.5% of older people were employed, compared to a European average of 48% and an OECD average of 54%.

It is above age 60 that the gap between France and the other OECD countries widens, although encouragingly the employment of 55 to 59 year-olds rose significantly: at 67% in 2012, the employment rate of 55-59 year-olds exceeded the European average of 63% and the OECD average of 66%.

Even if the employment of older people has risen slightly in France, as it did in almost every OECD country during the crisis, the employment rate for 55 to 64-year-olds is still below international averages: in 2012, 44.5% of older people were employed, compared to a European average of 48% and an OECD average of 54%.

It is above age 60 that the gap between France and the other OECD countries widens, although encouragingly the employment of 55 to 59 year-olds rose significantly: at 67% in 2012, the employment rate of 55-59 year-olds exceeded the European average of 63% and the OECD average of 66%.

Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development