Going grey, but not ready to call it quits
Unemployment is growing among those over 60. The jobless rate is especially high among seniors living in rustbelt industrial towns.
Today people over 60 stay in the labour market longer than ever before. But while some still manage to earn a living in their golden years, others are prematurely pushed out of the workforce. Joblessness among the over-60 crowd has doubled in the past five years.
Forest-heavy Häme, Pirkanmaa and Kymenlaakso are home to the highest number of long-term unemployed older workers. Former paper mill men in these areas typically sign up for unemployment while waiting for pensions to kick in.
Private sector watchdog EK meanwhile says it would like to see more silver workers retire at 65 instead of 63.
"Old age and disability are reasons to retire. Pensions are not the solution to other work life problems," says Jukka Ahtela of the Confederation of Finnish Industries EK.
Pekka Tiainen, an employment ministry official, meanwhile notes that the current model is a two-tier system, where the pool of senior talent is not always tapped.
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