Working until 65 rather unpopular

In 2005 about four in ten employees felt able to continue their current job until they reach the age of 65. Only two in ten employees actually want to continue working until this age.

Employees in construction and hotels often don’t feel able to continue

Employees working in construction and in hotels and restaurants feel least able to continue their current job until the age of 65. In hotels and restaurants only two in ten employees feel they can continue work until they are 65, versus three in ten construction workers. Most people working in construction would not want to work that long: nine in ten construction workers would like to stop earlier.

Working until 65 by branch of industry

Working until 65 by branch of industry

Hard work in construction and agriculture

One in four employees regularly has to use much strength at work and one in ten employees is regularly exposed to noise. Agriculture and construction are most demanding, physically. Almost half of all employees working there state that they regularly have to use a great deal of physical strength. People working in construction and the manufacturing industry experience most noise. A quarter of employees in these sectors regularly have to talk loudly to be heard. Four in ten construction workers and three in ten people working in manufacturing regularly use protective gear such as ear plugs and ear covers to protect their hearing.

Exerting strength and noisy work environment by branch of industry

Exerting strength and noisy work environment by branch of industry

Time pressure

Four in ten employees regularly work under great time pressure. This is reported most by people working in the branches transport and communication, hotels and restaurants, and in financial and business services such as engineering, real estate sales, ICT, security, temporary employment agencies etc.
Half of all employees also indicated that they almost always have too much work to do. This is mentioned more often in education, financial services, government and the manufacturing industry than in the branches.

Pressure at work by branch of industry

Pressure at work by branch of industry

Christianne Hupkens (CBS) and Seth van den Bossche (TNO)