Senior Social Entrepreneurship Community

The EU's population and workforce are ageing. The proportion of people over 55 is expected to reach about 37% by 2030. Inactivity in older age groups increases pressure on social security and pension systems.

The impact on the labour force is reinforced by the ageing of the large cohort of the population, known as the "baby boom generation", which is retiring. This growing population of healthy older people has the skills, financial resources and time available to contribute to economic activity through prolonging their working lives as well as through entrepreneurship.

Promoting entrepreneurship among older age groups is a pro-active educational option to prolong older people's working lives, reduce old age unemployment and improve their social inclusion. Older people now live longer than previous generations. They have to make different career and lifestyle choices. Many older people may wish to remain economically active. They may choose self-employment as a flexible alternative to traditional employment. The potential for continued income is particularly important for older people with lower levels of savings. Staying active and contributing to society has the additional benefit of improving older people's quality of life.