By: Dr Helen Beers, HSE

This blog is one in a series of blogs on the Future of Ageing, published in the lead up to the ILC-UK Future of Ageing conference on the 24th November. To register to attend this conference, click here.

The increase in the average age of the UK population, and workforce, are trends that are anticipated to continue. By 2020, it is estimated that almost 25% of the population will be aged 60 or over, and 36% of the working population will be aged over 50. The trend for an ageing workforce is coinciding with other trends such as increases in work intensity, and changes in technology and patterns of work.

From research carried out by HSE’s Health and Safety Laboratory (HSL), we know that the relationship between age and performance at work is not straightforward, and physical and mental declines do not necessarily impact on job performance. Current evidence indicates that older workers can perform just as well, and be just as productive, as their younger counterparts. It is important to note that everyone ages differently.

In the past, (e.g. before changes to the retirement age and pensions), people might have been expected to leave the workforce when they reached 65. It was also likely that those incapable of meeting the demands of their jobs would have stopped working, perhaps leaving their jobs due to poor health, or because they did not pass an occupational health assessment; thus leaving mainly healthy workers in the workplace.

People are now beginning to extend their working lives to meet the needs of business, the economy and also their own personal preferences. This trend is likely to continue. Hence, in the future, if the norm is to work beyond the age of 65; if the option of retirement or part-time work is not available or appropriate, then this will result in people being exposed to occupational risks for longer than they have been in the past.

Currently, there are gaps in our knowledge and understanding about the ‘real’ workplace health and safety implications of work, and the work environment, for those working beyond the age of 65.

It is possible that a “work until you drop” generation is beginning to emerge, as people are reporting not feeling “old enough” to retire. The reality for today’s children may be that they might live to be 120, having had multiple jobs and careers over a working lifespan of 100 years.

We know a lot about ageing and that the UK’s ageing workforce has potential consequences for the economy, yet know less about the health and safety consequence of an ageing workforce.

We need to continue developing insight, knowledge and understanding about the health and safety consequences of an ageing workforce and interactions between changes in the workplace and trends in the workforce.