Europeans Live Longer, Companies Unprepared

Europeans live longer

More than one-fifth of EU population is 65 or older, with 80-plus share set to double by 2100.

Principal CEO warns

Deanna Strable says employers aren’t ready for longer working lives as EU workforce ages.

“Employers and leaders are going to have to get used to people being in the workforce for a longer amount of time”

Labor market shifts

Record two-thirds of EU 55-64-year-olds employed in 2025, as birth rates fall and baby boomers retire.

Workforce adaptation needed

Companies must adjust hiring, job design, and training for longer careers as workers stay employed.

Principal’s approach

Principal trained 19,000 employees in AI over 18 months with flexible formats for different learning styles.

“some people want to do it very much on their own, other people want to do it with others sitting around the table”

Gender pension gap

EU women receive 24.5% smaller pensions than men despite working fewer years.

Women’s retirement confidence

Only 29% of EU women believe government pensions will cover retirement, down from 39% for men.

Pension reforms

U.K., Ireland, and Netherlands shift retirement savings to individuals with auto-enrollment and auto-escalation.

Women’s financial advice gap

Only 54% of EU women can access retirement planning tools, down from 64% for men.