Purpose

The article seeks to contribute to a better understanding of older people's situation in the labour market in three Baltic countries – Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Three Nordic countries are taken as a reference point to compare the countries in order to better understand the situation from a comparative point of view. The article asks the questions: Does a longer working life for older people contribute to their better economic situation? How satisfied are they with a longer working life and their working conditions? Do they experience any discrimination in the labour market because of their age?

Design/methodology/approach

In order to understand the situation of older people in the labour market, the authors employ welfare state models and the Active Ageing Index. The welfare state models help us to understand the context in which the working life of older people is taking place. The Active Ageing Index helps to gain a better understanding of the employment domain of active ageing. The analysis is based on several Europe-wide data sources: statistics on earnings from Eurostat database, information on income, job prospects, occupational safety and health, training, working life perspectives from the European Working Conditions Survey as well as a special survey, conducted by the authors, of Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian residents aged 50 years and older.

Findings

Analysis conducted reveals that in the Baltic countries older employees, although actively participating in the labour market, face unfavourable material, physical and psychological situation in the labour market more frequently than their younger colleagues. The findings show that the most important factors influencing older employees' decision to stay longer in the labour market in the Baltic countries are linked mostly to welfare state-related issues, i.e. financial benefits, healthcare, possibility to reconcile work and family obligations. These welfare state-related issues are even more important for those who are going to stay longer in the labour market after reaching the retirement age.

Originality/value

This article contributes to a better understanding of older (50+) people's situation in the labour market. It suggests that, while the increasing employment of older people increases the Active Ageing Index and is generally viewed positively, in some countries with less developed welfare states high employment rates of older employees, although providing them with an additional means of livelihood, do not ensure a higher quality of life and, on the contrary, act as a factor reducing the quality of work and, at the same time, the quality of life.

中文翻译：

---

更长的工作寿命——它们在实践中意味着什么——以波罗的海国家为例

目的

本文旨在帮助人们更好地了解三个波罗的海国家——爱沙尼亚、拉脱维亚和立陶宛老年人在劳动力市场上的状况。以北欧三个国家为参考点，对各国进行比较，以便从比较的角度更好地了解情况。文章提出了以下问题：老年人更长的工作寿命是否有助于改善他们的经济状况？他们对更长的工作寿命和工作条件的满意度如何？他们是否因为年龄而在劳动力市场上受到任何歧视？

设计/方法/方法

为了了解老年人在劳动力市场上的状况，作者采用了福利国家模型和活跃老龄化指数。福利国家模型帮助我们了解老年人工作生活的背景。积极老龄化指数有助于更好地了解积极老龄化的就业领域。该分析基于几个欧洲范围内的数据来源：来自欧盟统计局数据库的收入统计数据、来自欧洲工作条件调查的收入、工作前景、职业安全和健康、培训、工作生活观点的信息以及一项特别调查，作者是 50 岁及以上的立陶宛、拉脱维亚和爱沙尼亚居民。

发现

分析表明，在波罗的海国家，年长员工虽然积极参与劳动力市场，但比年轻同事更频繁地面临劳动力市场上不利的物质、身心状况。调查结果表明，影响波罗的海国家老年雇员决定在劳动力市场上停留更长时间的最重要因素主要与福利国家相关的问题有关，即经济福利、医疗保健、兼顾工作和家庭义务的可能性。对于那些在达到退休年龄后将在劳动力市场停留更长时间的人来说，这些与福利国家相关的问题更为重要。

原创性/价值

本文有助于更好地了解老年人（50 岁以上）的劳动力市场状况。它表明，虽然老年人就业的增加提高了积极老龄化指数并且普遍被认为是积极的，但在一些福利国家欠发达的国家，老年雇员的就业率很高，尽管为他们提供了额外的谋生手段，但并不能确保更高的生活质量，相反，它是降低工作质量的一个因素，同时也降低了生活质量。