Eurostat have released an interesting forecast about how long a person can expect to be active in the European labor market during his or her life. The data is measured in years and it’s based on someone who was 15-years-old in 2018. On average, the expected duration of working life in the European Union was 36.2 years – 3.3 years longer than in 2000. In individual member states, it ranges from 31.8 years in Italy to 41.9 years in Sweden.

The data also includes several countries outside the EU and their figures are diverse. In Turkey for example, a 15-year-old can expect a working life of 29.4 years before they retire. In Iceland, however, a 15-year-old can expect to work for far longer – 46.3 years in total. Elsewhere, the duration of work is estimated at 42.7 years in Switzerland and 39.6 years in Norway. Duration of work before retirement is estimated for Montenegro at 32 years.