More than 50 years in better health to work six years more

According to Canadian researcher Michaël Boissonneault, most employees who are now 50 years old or older can work without problem with six years more than the current age of retirement. Their physical health is not an obstacle in this regard, he says in his dissertation at the University of Groningen [1965-19002]. Boissonneault concludes that most older workers can work longer because health problems occur only very late. Although there is a relatively small group of people who have problems working longer, it's not a big problem on average.

And he thinks it's good news for decision makers who are in favor of a higher retirement age. More people who work longer offer a solution for funding pension systems, writes the researcher, who is also affiliated with the Dutch Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute (NIDI).

Part of the research is based on US data, another part about fourteen European countries

The increase in the age of the pension is not a problem & # 39;

"For physically demanding and disadvantaged people But most people up to 70 years are in good health and can therefore work longer."

An increase in the age of the Public retirement would be for many people physically so it should not be a problem, he says. De Beer: "But if the differences in health and the weight of work are not taken into account, an overall increase in the age of public retirement for everyone means that a number of groups will be under pressure. "

Street maker is known as a physically demanding profession. (photo: ANP)

Mental Health

It is interesting to note that Boissonneault is primarily interested in physical health. This also affects mental health, says David van Bodegom, aging scientist at the Leyden Academy.

"Most of the breakdowns in the work situation are not caused by physical complaints, but by mental complaints such as burnouts and depression, etc. It is unfortunate that work is still a source of many losses and losses. "It can be health," says Van Bodegom, who says companies need to make an effort to keep employees healthy.

Population groups differ

There are also differences between population groups. In addition, people with higher education can work longer on average than people with lower levels of education who often have poorer health. This also applies to people with physically demanding occupations, for example, executives on average can work 1.7 times longer than workers in factories or construction.

According to Ernst Jurgens, company doctor and director of the Dutch Association for Occupational and Industrial Medicine (NVAB), to relieve these groups, they should be transferred to another post on time. "The combination of a physically and mentally demanding job is expensive for someone for years, and the employer needs to think about it and make sure that employees remain as vital as possible."

Risk Profile

Jurgens therefore proposes to establish a risk profile for certain professions. "In this way, people can be informed about the hardness of their work and they can be better supported." We need to convince people to live healthier lives.

In his conclusion, the researcher Boissonneault also deals with difficult working conditions. For example, he expects the retirement age to lead to more unemployment and unemployment benefits before retirement age.

This can be avoided by promoting, for example, a healthy lifestyle, preventive care and long-term employability. ). In addition, working conditions should be improved, such as less demanding and less stressful work.