Europe Can No Longer Rely on Immigrant Workers

Europe needs to realize that immigrant workers alone will not solve the problem of an aging population, says the author of this article. One country, Sweden, has already made this realization and has increased the retirement age to 67. But given Sweden's long-term demographic changes, analysts have estimated that the retirement age could go as high as 79. An aging population, however, is only one part of the systemic problem. Menial jobs need to be retooled, and businesses that belong in labor-rich countries should move. More importantly, the author argues, the advantages of an older workforce should be considered. Of course, the cause of an aging population lies in the dwindling birth rate, which some feel will turn around, particularly if tax incentives and day care services are more successfully deployed by the government. All in all, the article concludes, immigration is a symptom more than a cause of a deeper issue: restructuring the workforce in developed nations. – YaleGlobal