This editorial serves as a general introduction to the research contributions that follow. First, we provide a general overview by discussing briefly why, in our view, it is important to look at “ageing and careers” from a life-course perspective. Related to this, we will highlight the dynamics in the employee-organisation interaction over time as reflected in changes in the employment relationship (psychological contract). Subsequently, the specific contributions in this special issue, categorised into two broader foci of attention (topics), will be introduced. Before introducing the papers one by one, we will briefly discuss the two foci, that is, long-term career development behaviour and employability on the one hand (three papers), and career withdrawal behaviour and early retirement (also three papers) on the other hand. We will conclude this editorial by discussing some future research needs on ageing and careers that arise from the papers in this issue.