In 2016, could be expected to work for an average of 35.6 years, up by 1.8 years compared with 2006. Over this ten-year period, the duration of working life increased more rapidly for women (33.1 years in 2016 compared with 30.6 years in 2006, or +2.5 years) than for men (38.0 years in 2016 compared with 36.9 years in 2006, or +1.1 year).
Across the EU member states, in 2016 Sweden had the longest expected average working life (41.3 years). Denmark and the Netherlands followed with 40.3 years and 40.0 years respectively, ahead of the United Kingdom (38.8 years), Germany (38.1 years), Estonia (37.8 years) and Finland (37.7 years).
At the opposite end of the scale, working life was expected to last less than 33 years in Italy (31.2 years), Bulgaria (31.7 years), Croatia (32.1 years), Romania (32.4 years), Greece (32.5 years), Belgium (32.6 years) as well as in Luxembourg and Poland (both 32.9 years).
In all member states except in Latvia and Lithuania, the duration of working life was expected to be longer for men than for women in 2016, Eurostat data showed.
The ‘duration of working life’ indicator measures the number of years a person, aged 15, can expect to be active in the labor market, either employed or unemployed, throughout his/her life.