According to the survey, if the country’s working-age population were divided into age groups at 5-year intervals, the biggest segment would be people between 50 and 55. Within a decade, they will be approaching retirement age.
Robertas Dargis, the head of the association, has told the radio station Žinių Radijas that the survey is meant as a warning for politicians to do something about the country’s ageing population.
“On the other hand, we need to think what skills and qualifications we want from young people who are entering the labour market in much smaller numbers, so that their productivity can support Lithuania’s budget” Dargis says.
“The demographic situation also varies geographically. If Vilnius is a moderately growing and relatively young city, then regional towns have seen their populations shrink 7-8 percent over the last five years.”
Dargis said that Lithuania was the fastest-ageing society in the European Union. Since joining the union in 2004, the population has aged nine years. Keeping elderly people in the labour market will therefore be one of the tasks for policy-makers and employers.
“In 2025, there will be 300,000 fewer working-age people than we have today,” Dargis says.
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