Employment in Europe 2003
[2003 - European Commission] The 15th edition of the annual Employment in Europe report is the first Employment in Europe report in which the acceding and accession countries have been almost fully integrated into the analysis. After presenting a panorama of recent developments in European labour markets, this report looks at several important issues of relevance to the new European Employment Strategy: it investigates the relationship between employment specialisation, skills and productivity. It further reflects on wage structures and the link between wages and productivity in an enlarged Union, and assesses existing wage differentiation across skills, sectors and regions. Quality in work is addressed in the context of labour market dynamics and flexibility. Finally, the ageing of the population and immigration are examined with regard to the implications for labour supply and employment. From this year the detailed charts, tables and statistical annex of the report are also available on-line for your personal use and presentations.

Labour Market Trends and Characteristics of Older Workers (PDF)

Average exit age from the labour force (in Europe)
[2003 - European Commission] The Barcelona European Council concluded that "a progressive increase of about 5 years in the effective average age at which people stop working in the European Union should be sought by 2010". The Stockholm European Council agreed "to set an EU target for increasing the average EU employment rate among older women and men (55-64) to 50 % by 2010". The Stockholm target (increasing the employment rate of 55-64 year-olds) and the Barcelona target (delaying exits from the labour force at mature ages) are measured by two structural indicators: The "employment rate of older workers" and the new "average exit age from the labour force". The annual monitoring of the Stockholm and Barcelona targets through these structural indicators will allow the Commission to assess, as requested by the European Council, whether Member States are "stepping up" efforts to increase opportunities for older workers to remain in the labour market. The attached main document analyses labour market trends in relation to the Barcelona and Stockholm targets.