The global trend of raising the retirement age and extending working lives is facing a serious challenge. Globally, this process means that employees have to retire much later. This policy is driven by demographic shifts. Due to rising life expectancy and declining birth rates, the population is aging, and the entry of new workforce is shrinking.
Consequently, governments are gradually raising the retirement age to ease the economic burden and save pension funds from insolvency. However, according to a major new study, the health status of workers aged 18 to 44 is deteriorating significantly. This means that the younger generation will reach retirement age with much poorer health than today’s older workforce, which threatens the very premise of raising the retirement age.
The study, published in the European Journal of Public Health, was conducted by researchers at the Hannover Medical School. The main aim of the project was to determine how realistic it is to extend working years even further, and which age or social groups are most at risk. To build a comprehensive picture, scientists examined data from several long-term surveys conducted across Germany and Europe, alongside analyzing the medical records of more than 3 million insured individuals.
The analysis of medical data showed that despite a decline in cardiovascular diseases and cancers, there is a sharp increase in musculoskeletal conditions. Combined with worsening mental health, these problems are manifesting at a much earlier age, exacerbated by overweight, stressful work environments, and lack of rest.
Raising the retirement age does not align with health improvement trends. Unless appropriate preventive measures are taken, people in the future will be forced to continue working into old age with already compromised health.
