Presentation by Tom Vandenbrande (HIVA - Research Institute for Work and Society of the Leuven University) on the occasion of the Joint EESC conference organised by the Labour Market Observatory and the European Year 2012 Coordination Group on the Activation of senior citizens - Humanising working conditions for senior workers (Brussels - 20 June 2012)

1. Humanising working conditions for
senior workers
EESC Conference 20th June 2012
Tom Vandenbrande, HIVA-KU Leuven
Design Charles & Ray Eames - Hang it all © Vitra

2. Active ageing: job quality matters!
• Sustainability: Do you
think you will be able
to do the same yob
you are doing now
when you are 60
years old?
• Strongly related to
quality of work!
Brussels, 20 June 2012 Based on research on EWCS 2010 2

3. A job quality balance good for long careers
• Perceived sustainability not
highest in top quality jobs / not
lowest in bottom quality jobs
• Balance in job quality
characteristics important for
job sustainability
• Emotional demands can be an
explanation for short careers.
Particular attention needed.
Brussels, 20 June 2012 Based on research on EWCS 2010 3

4. Seven job quality types
Constellations based on 22 indicators
• Saturated jobs: interesting scores on all
indicators
• Full time balanced work: reasonable postive
scores on most dimensions
• Work with limited career prospects: working
part time and/or in jobs with limited career
prospects
• Work on flexible and unusual hours: good
salary and a full time job, but unfavourable
working time arrangements
• Emotionally demanding work: dealing with
people outside organization, no support inside
organization
• Heavy repetitive work: no autonomy or say,
risky environment, but good working conditions
• Indecent work: bad scores on most items
Brussels, 20 June 2012 Based on research on EWCS 2010 4

5. More jobs, better jobs?
More older workers in countries with better jobs!
• Overall Job Quality Index by
ETUI-REHS based on
– wages
– non-standard employment
– work-life balance & working time
– working conditions and job
security
– access to training and career
development
– voice / participation
• Countries with good quality
jobs have highest employment
rate (also for older workers)!
• Employment rate higher when
work is attractive to workers!
Brussels, 20 June 2012 Based on EZA seminars 5

6. Conclusions
• Job quality really matters
• Balanced work with longest career prospects,
emotionally demanding work with short careers
• Job quality should be an important element in
policies on active ageing. Making work attractive is
essential in keeping workers active at older age.
• Attractive work not equals to low cost work (cf.
current policies), but to high quality work.
Brussels, 20 June 2012 Conclusions 6