An issue of age in the labour market in Slovakia

Economic Annals-ХХI: Volume 168, Issue 11-12, Pages: 93-99

Citation information:
Pawera, R., & Jančíková, E. (2017). An issue of age in the labour market in Slovakia. Economic Annals-XXI, 168(11-12), 93-99. doi: https://doi.org/10.21003/ea.V168-19

René Pawera
PhD (Management),
Associate Professor,
Faculty of Management,
Department of Economics and Finance,
Comenius University
10 Odbojarov Str., Bratislava 25, 820 05, Slovak Republic
rene.pawera@fm.uniba.sk
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0700-8243

Eva Jančikova
PhD (Economics),
Associate Professor,
Faculty of International Relations,
Department of International Economic Relations and Economic Diplomacy,
University of Economics in Bratislava
1 Dolnozemska cesta Str., Bratislava, 852 35, Slovak Republic
eva.jancikova@euba.sk
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1328-6872

An issue of age in the labour market in Slovakia

Abstract. Introduction. Equal opportunities in the labour market with regard to age issues are currently among the important research topics in countries with a developed economy. In the context of sustainable economic development, the dynamics of economic growth and social cohesion, it is at the forefront of the application of democratic principles in the economy. The labour market is the most affected by the issue of equal opportunities in terms of age. Current and future demographic developments in Europe imply the need to create new jobs and access to employment in the European Union’s labour markets. In this article, we introduce information which is necessary for analysis of the future developments in society. Knowledge on development and changes in a composition of the national workforce are important factors of growth and raising prosperity.

With regard to the aforementioned, the purpose of this paper is to examine whether representatives of the addressed companies in Slovakia believe that the young people (we particularly mean persons in a group less than 25 years old) are disadvantaged in the Slovakian labour market and what could be the reasons of that. By the research on how difficult it is for individual age and gender categories to obtain a job opportunity in the labour market, we also aim to verify the hypothesis of unfavourable labour market position of older people, especially women.

Results. Based on the information from own survey carried out among the economically active population of Slovakia in 2005-2016, we deliver insights on the issue of age which is one of the most important labour market factors. Final synthesizing of data was performed on the sample of 1 659 interviews. In particular, the research has found out that approximately two thirds of the employers believed that the young people are not disadvantaged in the labour market; the relationships among the workers of different age in the organizations are considered good in the vast majority of cases (62%); 71% of employers reject suspicion that they remunerate the employees according to the age; and only a minority has confirmed statement that they take into account the age of employees, however, 86% of employers have confirmed they do not seek workers older than 50, especially women.

Conclusion. It has been confirmed by the research undertaken that the age issue is the most common reason for discrimination. At the same time, it is difficult to detect such discrimination, as far as the employers usually do not recognize such fact. The most vulnerable workforce age groups are found to be young women as well as those over 45.

Keywords: Labour Market; Age; Discrimination; Equality of Access; Slovakia

JEL Classification: J71; M14; M54

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21003/ea.V168-19

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Received 9.12.2017