More and more Danes are working past the age of 75, a trend seen across industries, genders, and geography. This is according to figures from the Danish Agency for Labour Market and Recruitment, STAR.

In April 2015, there were 8,644 people over 75 employed. By April of this year, that number had risen to 18,425. Ten years ago, two percent of the age group were still in work, whereas today, the figure has risen to 2.9 percent – an increase of 45 percent. More men stay in the job than women.

Bjarne Hastrup, director of Ældre Sagen, believes this development will become more pronounced. He notes that while older people may not be as fast in the hallways as young people, they are better at strategic thinking. He also points out that women at 65 have around 25 years left to live, and men have 17 to 18, which is a long retirement.

One of the biggest barriers to getting people to stay longer in the past was that their salary was deducted from their state pension. This became clear during the corona pandemic, when many pensioners returned to the labour market. The rules on deducting salary from state pension were removed three years ago, allowing seniors to work and receive public funds simultaneously.

This is crucial because the proportion of older people in the Danish population is growing, and a large proportion of the increase in employment must come from seniors. For companies, seniors often take on a specific role and can be steadfast supporters during crises. Hastrup refers to this as “senior cool,” where experienced seniors can maintain a calm perspective during company setbacks.

Despite the strengths of seniors in the workplace, Hastrup believes there are challenges, especially when older people become unemployed. He urges employers to recognize the value of these seniors and help them re-enter the workforce.

Hastrup, who is 79 years old, plans to continue working and advises others to avoid the retirement trap by not setting an expiry date on their working life. He also recommends keeping fit, exercising regularly, reading to keep the brain active, and ensuring eyesight and hearing are checked regularly. To manage stress, Hastrup advises prioritizing tasks and focusing on the most important issues. He says he will likely continue working until just before he dies, like his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.