Norway: Statistics Show Increase in Employment of Older Workers

According to a report in Aftenposten, numbers releaed by the state statistics bureau (SSB) showed an increase in the number of older workers getting back into the job market. Faced with a labour shortage, many employers have started welcoming retirees who want to go back to work. Specifically, workers aged 67-74 boosted their share of the workforce by 4%, while there were 1.5% more workers aged 55-66 during the first quarter of 2007. The article did note, however, that most of the older workers are in part-time positions, working less than 20 hours a week.

Source: Aftenposten "Jobless rate steady" (May 4, 2007)

Norway: Pension Reform Agreement Supports Older Workers

Norway's center-left government and opposition parties reached a compromise on pension reforms that are intended to encourage older workers to stay in employment longer and to make pensions fair and sustainable. Among other things, future pension options will include retirement at age 62, but there are strong incentives to continue until age 70. According to an article by Aftenposten's Norwegian reporter Sigurd Bjørnestad, the agreement keeps Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg's pension reform promise to give everyone more was more or less intact.

The new system is complex, with many new pros and cons, with the clearest perhaps being the ability to choose between a longer retirement on less of a pension, and working long to guarantee a more comfortable, though shorter, retirement. A key change is the ability to work as much as one likes after retirement without losing pension benefits.

Source: Aftenposten "Pension reform agreed" (March 22, 2007)

Other Sources: Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Labour and Social Inclusion The Pension Reform

Norway: First Senior-only Temp Agency Opens

According to a report from Norwegian Broadcasting, Norway has started its first manpower service drawing solely on the resources of older workers. Seniorformidling is the name of the unique bureau that only links employers with workers over the age of 50.

Founder Tor Kristian Johansen says: "Older job seekers often experience being put at the back of the applicant queue, and fall to the wayside because of their age." More and more companies are contacting the senior manpower service, which confirms an emerging trend towards using experienced workers to fill temporary gaps.

Source: Aftenposten "Senior service" (January 2, 2007)