EVOLVING PATTERNS OF WORKING LIFE DURATION IN THE EUROPEAN UNION
Otilia TRAȘCĂ
Management, “Eugeniu Carada” Doctoral School of Economics Sciences,
University of Craiova, Craiova, Romania trasca.otilia14@gmail.com
Abstract: This paper examines the duration of working life in the European Union (EU) member states, showing its evolution from 2015 to 2024. The objective is to determine the trends at the EU level and the differences among each state’s average number of years an employee is expected to spend in the labour market. The methodology used in preparing the study is a descriptive statistical analysis of data published by Eurostat, which uses a comparative approach of the evolution over the time period examined and the existing differences between member states. The results of the study show an increasing trend in the duration of the working life in the EU countries, but also highlight significant variations among states. The Eurostat data also reveal substantial disparities between women and men. This evolution suggests significant changes in the economic context and the dynamics of the European workforce. The conclusions highlight the necessity of finding a balance in the European labour market, in order to better understand the evolution of the labour market, especially in the context of the demographic transition.
Keywords: working life duration; labour market; European Union; employment; gender disparities
JEL classification: J21; J11
