The Dutch population has the longest average working life in Europe
The average Dutch person works for 42,5 years
Anyone in the Netherlands who turned 15 and subsequently entered the labor force in 2021, regardless of whether they are employed or unemployed, will have to work for an average of 42,5 years before they may retire. Men typically work longer than women, with the possibility of working for up to 44,3 years in their lifetime. On the other side, it is a little bit lower for women, at 40,5 years.
Though people in the Netherlands may labor for longer periods of time, according to economist Leontine Treur of Rabobank, they probably work less hours per week and prefer to work part-time. She told RTL Nieuws, "We don't work many hours a week, but we work well into old age."
In Europe, the average working life is growing longer
Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland, which are not EU members, have recorded incredibly long working lives (all of at least 41 years). The countries with the shortest working lifespans were Romania (31,3 years) and a number of Southern European nations.
Overall, according to Eurostat, both men and women can anticipate their working lives to last longer across Europe. Men were expected to work for 35,8 years in 2001, whilst women were only expected to work for 28,8. Now, these numbers are 38,2 and 33,7, respectively.