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Chart 1: Population ageing will have a sizeable impact on OECD workforces in coming decades
If supply- and demand-side barriers to employment are not addressed, population ageing will imply a sharp deceleration of labour force growth during the next three decades – including absolute declines in nearly one-half of the OECD countries. The ratio of persons aged 65 years and older to the labour force – which provides a measure of old-age dependency – would also rise sharply from 27% in 2000 to 47% in 2030. Finally, a pronounced “greying” of the workforce will occur, with the share of workers aged 50 years and older in the labour force increasing from 23% to 31% (see also Chart 2.2 of the publication).
Chart 2: Some groups are significantly under-represented in employment
It is essential for policy to focus attention on under-represented groups. Aggregate employment rates for OECD countries differ by up to 40 percentage points – ranging from 45% to 85% of the working-age population. Most of this variation is due to differences in employment rates for groups often found on the margins of the labour market, including women, older workers and persons with low educational attainment or disabilities. Employment rates for these under-represented groups are much lower than those for prime-age men in most countries, but also vary more strongly from country to country, depending on how well national labour markets facilitate their participation in paid employment (see also Chart 2.3 of the publication).
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