Throughout the world, if more people would enjoy opportunities for dignified work (properly remunerated, in adequate environments, protected against the hazards) earlier in life, people would reach old age able to participate in the workforce. Thus, the whole society would benefit. In all parts of the world, there is an increasing recognition of the need to support the active and productive
contribution that older people can and do make in formal work, informal work, unpaid activities in the home and in voluntary occupations. In developed countries, the potential gain
of encouraging older people to work longer is not being fully realized. But when unemployment is high, there is often a tendency to see reducing the number of older workers as a way to create jobs for younger people. However, experience has shown that the use of early retirement to free up new jobs
for the unemployed has not been an effective solution (OECD, 1998).
In less developed countries, older people are by necessity more likely to remain economically active into old age (see Figure 9). However, industrialization, adoption of new technologies and labour market mobility is threatening much of the traditional work of older people, particularly in rural areas. Development projects need to ensure that older people are eligible for credit schemes and full participation in incomegenerating opportunities.
Concentrating only on work in the formal labour market tends to ignore the valuable contribution that older people make in work in the
informal sector (e.g., small scale, self-employed activities and domestic work) and unpaid work in the home.
In both developing and developed countries, older people often take prime responsibility
for household management and childcare so that younger adults can work outside the home.
In all countries, skilled and experienced older people act as volunteers in schools, communities,
religious institutions, businesses and health and political organizations. Voluntary work benefits older people by increasing social contacts and psychological well being while making a significant contribution to their communities and nations.