At a time when pension reform is a major topic in the French news, you may be wondering about employment among older workers. What are the key statistics regarding employment among older workers? Are there specific measures in place to make it easier for them to work? Is it beneficial to hire people aged 50 or older in your company? In this article, find all the answers to your questions.

What is a senior employee in a company?

According to the INSEE definition, as used by the Ministry of Labor, a senior is considered to be between the ages of 55 and 64. However, in the workplace, mid-career reviews generally take place when an employee turns 45, the age at which a company becomes eligible for subsidies for hiring seniors. A specific fixed-term contract is also an option starting at age 57. The term “senior” is therefore not tied to a specific age, but rather to a range extending from age 45 until the employee retires.

It also seems important to highlight the difference between an employee’s age and level of experience. An employee may also be considered a senior professional solely because of their many years of experience—between 15 and 20 years on average—in their field.

Employment of Older Adults: Key Figures

A recent study by Dares revealed the employment rate among older adults in France in 2021. Although this figure has been rising since 1975, it remains lower than that of other European Union countries. For example, 56% of people aged 55 to 64 are employed, compared to 76.9% in Sweden and 63.4% in Portugal.

Turning back to French workers, the 55–59 age group is the most active, with 75.1% employed and 6.3% unemployed. The employment rate for older workers aged 60 to 64, on the other hand, stands at only 35.5%. This can be explained in part by the fact that about one in six people retire at age 60, and two out of three at age 63. Starting at age 64, more than 70% of seniors are retired, 13.3% are employed, and 5.2% are both working and receiving a pension.

Why is the employment rate among older adults in France low?

There are several possible reasons for this phenomenon. In some companies, working conditions may not necessarily be suited to older workers, which can make the job in question more physically demanding and discourage job seekers. Furthermore, according to a study conducted by Pôle Emploi and published recently, age is a real barrier to finding work for older workers. In fact, recruiters sometimes worry about having to deal with higher salary expectations than those of younger candidates, as well as greater difficulty in adapting to new roles. Finally, older workers’ employment at a company may be limited to a relatively short period due to their approaching retirement.

What is the Senior Plan?

This is a measure implemented by the Ministry of Labor and the Economy with the aim of promoting employment among older workers. Among other things, it facilitates the hiring of candidates aged 50 and older and ensures the protection of older workers in the workplace. The “Senior Plan in the Workplace” initiative is structured around the following six themes, as determined by the government:

• A specific goal is set regarding the hiring and retention of older workers within the company;
• their career progress is monitored;
• The Senior Plan allows for flexible work schedules and helps prevent physically demanding work situations;
• A mentoring system is being developed, along with knowledge-sharing initiatives;
• Access to training programs is a possibility, in order to develop their skills and qualifications;
• End-of-career arrangements are designed to help them prepare for retirement as effectively as possible.

This action plan is specific to each industry and each company, but it does not apply at all to companies with fewer than 50 employees. However, it is mandatory for companies with 50 to 300 employees.

What are the benefits for an employer of hiring a senior employee on a permanent contract?

Make the Most of Your Professional Experience

If you decide to hire a candidate who is 50 or older, you’ll be able to benefit from all the skills they’ve acquired throughout their career in one or more fields. Hiring a senior employee therefore represents real added value for your company, since there’s a good chance they’ll be able to adapt to the job more quickly than a junior employee could.

Take advantage of its behavioral qualities

Adaptability, independence, organizational skills, interpersonal skills, analytical skills, and the ability to take a step back are among the soft skills most valued by employers. Over the years, older workers have had the opportunity to develop these types of skills. They are usually able to defuse conflicts and easily build social connections with other employees.

Ensure the transfer of knowledge within the company

Employing older workers facilitates intergenerational knowledge transfer within the company itself. In fact, older employees become, in a sense, mentors to younger talent, helping them when they encounter difficulties or simply to enhance their skills and expertise.

Get Attractive Hiring Incentives

You're probably wondering what kind of assistance is available for hiring a senior citizen, aren't you?

First of all, it is worth noting the 2,000-euro subsidy available to companies wishing to hire a job seeker aged 45 or older under a professional training contract.

There is also a subsidy available for hiring seniors aged 57 or older, which allows you to offer them a fixed-term contract or an “inclusion” permanent contract if your company is a job placement organization.  

Which industries are hiring older workers?

On the Pôle Emploi website, job openings for older workers span a wide range of industries and levels of responsibility. Nevertheless, it is true that certain sectors hire more candidates aged 50 and older. This is particularly the case in the digital sector, surprising as it may seem. The digital market is constantly evolving and has significant hiring needs. Companies in this sector are therefore eager to hire older workers to mentor younger employees and manage information systems.

Careers in healthcare and personal care also offer excellent job opportunities for older adults, as do careers in the hospitality and restaurant industries. These opportunities most often involve executive or management positions. Generally speaking, a candidate’s experience and organizational skills carry more weight than their age for these types of positions, which gives older adults a significant advantage.

In short, hiring people who are around 50 years old or older is highly beneficial and adds value to your entire company. Promoting the inclusion of older employees allows teams to share their knowledge and strengthen social bonds across generations. All members of the company can then benefit from and draw inspiration from the wealth of experience these employees bring.

In any case, if you feel you need assistance with your recruitment strategy, please don’t hesitate to contact us. The entire Bonanza team is here to help you attract new talent that perfectly matches your needs through recruitment campaigns on social media that are both relevant and creative.