Starsi pracownicy i bezrobotni. Prawda o pokoleniu 50+

Abstract

Older workers and the unemployed. The truth about the 50-plus generation Both in Polish social policy and social diagnosis, the 50-plus generation is treated as being in an especially difficult situation. The authors of the article underline that this population is a very diverse one, thus we cannot apply the above judgment to all of its members. The 50-plus generation is made up of people who lived out most of their professional life during The People’s Republic of Poland, but also those who primarily worked in market economy conditions. Half of the 50-plus population is professionally passive, yet the other part is active on the labour market. Those employed from the 50-plus generation are educated, experienced specialists or hold executive positions. 50-plus unemployed are in a much more difficult situation since their qualifications and expectations concerning work preferences do not correspond with possible job offers. The difficulties of the 50-plus generation are only partially linked with their age and therefore it should not be the main criterion defining the addressee of active labor market programs.