Croatia, Romania, Bulgaria have shortest expected working lives in Europe

Croatia, Romania, and Bulgaria stand out with the shortest expected working lives in Europe, averaging just 36 years. This figure is considerably lower than in Northern European nations, where individuals can expect to work for 43 to 46 years.

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Croatia has a late entry of young people into the labor market, lower employment of women than Northern Europe, and a large number of disability or early retirements.

Several factors contribute to this disparity. These include a delayed entry into the labor market for young people, lower rates of female employment compared to Northern Europe, and a significant number of disability or early retirements. The difference between the longest and shortest expected working lives amounts to a full decade, representing a substantial loss of productive time.

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Liam from Rotterdam can expect as many as 46 years of work before he turns off the computer at his last job, with, of course, more than a good salary.

For instance, a 15-year-old in Croatia might expect to work 36 years, while a peer in the Netherlands could anticipate 46 years of work. This gap is equivalent to the time it takes a child to progress from first grade to high school graduation, highlighting the economic and social implications of shorter working lives.

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Erling will work 43, and Marko, if he stays in Croatia, could be assigned only 36 years.

The article also notes that 859 doctors in Croatia are over the age of 65, indicating a demographic trend within the healthcare sector that may influence workforce planning and retirement patterns.

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This is not a small difference – it is a whole productive decade, approximately how long a child needs to get from first grade to high school graduation.