Insights from Global Employers: The Future of Work is Living, Learning and Earning Longer

The world’s population is growing older and faster than at any time in human history. Despite the pandemic, globally people ages 60 and older continue to outnumber children ages 5 and under, growing at a rate four times faster than the overall global population.

Employers around the world prosper when they focus on providing work environments that cultivate a multigenerational workforce that maximizes diversity, equity and inclusion. Still, many employers are struggling to establish effective policies that support workers living, learning, and earning into older age.

AARP recently surveyed employers in 36 OECD countries, collecting data in two waves, one in the fall of 2019 and again in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. The results illuminate how global employers are uniquely positioned to lead the changes needed to support multigenerational, inclusive workforce ecosystems.

Although government can and should support the development of multigenerational, inclusive workforce ecosystems, employers are experiencing the demographic shifts in real-time and are already moving quickly to adapt.

Among the key findings, the survey confirms that older workers are remaining in the workforce, defying stereotypes, contributing to business growth including higher profit margins, and still fighting ageism and discrimination.