On Thursday 16 October 2025, the Luxembourg Employers' Association (Union des Entreprises Luxembourgeoises - UEL) published its latest Employment Barometer report entitled “Reimagining Senior Employment: A Strategic Challenge for Luxembourg”.
Developed in collaboration with the professional associations fr2s (Federation for Recruitment Search & Selection), HR Community and FES (FEDIL Employment Services), the report examines the employment of people aged 55 and over in Luxembourg. It highlights the country’s below-average senior employment rate compared to OECD levels and calls for a change in perception, stronger financial incentives and greater awareness among employers to better integrate senior workers into the labour market.
According to UEL, fewer than one in two people aged 55 to 64 in Luxembourg are in employment, compared to almost 70% on average across OECD countries. The organisation stressed that this situation is “not sustainable” and represents “a significant loss for the labour market”, both economically and socially.
The Employment Barometer findings underline the need to “overcome preconceptions” that hinder the hiring of senior workers and to broaden the range of roles offered to them. The study found that seniors are often considered mainly for managerial positions associated with higher salaries, even though many “aspire to operational roles” without necessarily wanting to lead a team.
UEL and its partners noted that senior professionals are generally aware of their market value and often have “more moderate salary expectations”, as many are in a new stage of life, have secured certain personal aspects or prioritise the “content and meaning of work” over remuneration. Employers and recruiters are therefore encouraged to recognise this reality and “embrace a greater diversity of positions for senior candidates”.
The report also revealed that one in three recruitment experts is unaware of existing measures supporting the hiring or retention of senior employees, while a quarter of respondents consider current mechanisms insufficient. Strengthening financial incentives was identified as the top priority by HR professionals, alongside a need for “greater awareness among individuals and employers” and an evolution in attitudes towards senior employment.
According to the Barometer, 80% of recruitment experts believe that senior workers are “not sufficiently valued” in Luxembourg’s labour market, despite their reliability and stability, which UEL described as making their employment “a sustainable choice”.
With this Employment Barometer, UEL, fr2s, HR Community and FES aim to change perceptions and promote a more inclusive approach to the employment of senior workers. “Luxembourg needs more seniors in employment - this is a strategic priority, essential for safeguarding both economic development and the country’s social model,” the organisations concluded.
