| Abstract [eng] |
72 pages, 14 tables, 13 figures, 66 references. The main goal of this master's thesis is to determine what influence the ageing of society has on the Lithuanian labour market. The work consists of three main parts: literature analysis of the impact of population ageing on the labour market, research and its results, conclusions and recommendations. In the work, the ageing process of the Lithuanian population and its impact on the labour market are analysed based on a review of the scientific literature and by applying methodologies that allow assessing the extent and consequences of this phenomenon. The study revealed that the ageing of the population is caused by several main factors: declining birth rates, emigration and decreased mortality. The decline in the birth rate is attributed to cultural changes, family planning, women's rights, and the economic situation, while the decline in the death rate is due to medical advances and healthier lifestyles. Emigration is closely related to financial crises and the economic situation of the country. The author found that ageing poses significant challenges to the labour market, especially as the size and productivity of the workforce declines. It has been observed that the level of participation in the labour market and employment depends on the health of older people, the pension system and policies. Older workers, although often considered less productive due to physical limitations and slower adaptation to technology, can compete with their younger counterparts in the service sector due to their experience and skills. The analysis of Lithuanian labour market trends allowed the author to notice an increasing trend in the share of older people in the labour market. From 2002 to 2024, the share of the 55-64 age group in the labour market doubled despite the challenges caused by the economic crisis and the pandemic. By applying vector autoregression and its analytical tools, the paper found that aging does not directly and statistically significantly affect labour market indicators, but the reliability of this result is limited by the short sample of the research period and specific factors of the Lithuanian economy, such as joining the European Union. In the conclusions and recommendations, it can be seen that in the future, in order to control the effects of ageing, Lithuania should promote active ageing, ensure the participation of older people in the labour market and society, and invest in education and health care. In addition, it is necessary to develop flexible working conditions, retraining programs and encourage the birth rate of young families, reducing their financial burden. Immigration policy can also contribute to solving labour market needs but should be implemented responsibly and strategically. Together, these measures would create conditions for a more sustainable and competitive labour market in Lithuania. |
