some leave the world of work before their time

“Each year, on average, about 30% of departures at the end of their career do not result from an immediate transition from employment to retirement”. This is what France Strategy, an organization attached to the Prime Minister, notes in its latest note. Early exits from employment which contribute to the low employment rate of seniors in France: 56.9% compared to 62.44% in the European Union.

In what situations are these people who leave the world of work before the legal retirement age? Three scenarios emerge: the most numerous are those who fall into what economists call “the halo of unemployment”. They do not fall into the category of unemployed as defined by the International Labor Office because they are not immediately available for employment. This is the case, for example, of seniors who are responsible for a loved one in a situation of dependency. These represent 15% of the total. There are also those who have health problems, who are on long-term sick leave or on disability, for example. They are 10% of those who leave professional life before receiving their retirement. Finally, there are the unemployed, 4% of the total.

Mainly workers and employees

The situations are very different depending on the trades that one exercises. France Strategy has selected 20 professions in which between four and six departures at the end of their careers out of ten do not come under a liquidation of retirement. Much more than the average of 30% therefore. First conclusion: employees with the status of workers and employees are much more affected than others. But certain sectors concentrate these early departures: these are accommodation and catering, services to individuals and communities, such as personal services or maintenance workers, handling workers and certain industries.

Conversely, some professions are very little affected by these early departures. Professions where the rate of early departures fluctuates between 3% and 25%. These are technicians and executives, doctors, study and research staff, engineers and technical executives in industry, bank executives and teachers.