Czech Republic : ageing and employment policies = (vieillissement et politiques de l’emploi)

The process of population ageing is far more pronounced in the Czech Republic than in most other OECD countries. Fertility rates are among the lowest in the world and average life expectancy continues to increase. Many older workers take early retirement from the labour market. In 2002, more than 54 percent of men aged 60 had retired, and also almost 60 percent of women aged 56. These trends also pose a challenge to the sustainability of public pensions. Measures need to be taken to improve employment prospects for older workers, both by reducing work disincentives in the social protection (social security) system (for example, by making early retirement less financially attractive), by removing barriers faced by employers in hiring and retaining older people, and by measures to improve the employability of older workers.