Governments across the EU are recognising that older people need more opportunities to work later in life if they choose to, for their health, wealth and wellbeing. They also recognise that older workers are becoming more important to the European economy. Their participation in the labour market helps to maintain the size of the labour force, productivity, and sustainable social welfare and pension systems. This book will bring together emerging understandings and research findings on the views of older workers, retired people, employers and governments. It will provide key insights and suggest potential ways for the needs of different groups to be met. Problems and dilemmas will be identified and considered. The book will include examples of innovative practice in working with individuals, employers and intermediaries and will feature contributions from researchers in the UK, France, Poland, Spain and Norway. The book is aimed at upper level undergraduate and MA students of gerontology, social policy, sociology and HRM. It will also be of interest to policy makers and professionals working in the fields of employment and guidance, policy, economics, labour force development and research.

Author Biography

Tony Chiva has spent most of his working life in education. He has worked in the fields of education and health, with the focus on gerontology and jointly with the University of Surrey and Life Academy. He is also a psycho-spiritual teacher. He is co-editor of Promoting the Health of Older People (Open University Press, 2001). Jill Manthorpe is Professor of Social Work at King's College London, UK. She is director of the Social Care Workforce Research Unit and has wide experience of working with older people, researching into areas such as adult protection, community care and mental health. She has published, edited and co-authored numerous texts on the social care workforce and mental health topics.