The economist called the growing demand for older workers the new norm.

The growing demand for older workers in Russia is becoming a steady trend against the background of a shortage of young professionals. Economic commentator Anna Kaledina told Izvestia about this on October 17.

"The growing dependence on specialists of the older generation is no longer a fluctuation, but a new norm, or, in the words of one of the famous economists at the time, normality," she said.

According to the expert, in 2021-2025, citizens aged 55 and older accounted for almost 81.5% of the labor force growth. At the same time, analysts attribute such dynamics mainly to later retirement, rather than to the return of older people to work.

Kaledina noted that employers are increasingly paying attention to age candidates. So in 2024, the interest of companies in applicants over the age of 50 increased by about half. The largest increase in demand was recorded among candidates over the age of 61 — by 106%.

The economic observer stressed that over the past decade, the share of employed people aged 20-29 has decreased from 20.8% to 13.5%, and the peak of employment has shifted from the age group of 30-39 years to 40-49 years. At the same time, by 2030, the number of Russians aged 20-39 is projected to decrease by about 11 million people, to 32.5 million.

According to Kaledina, a further reduction in the number of young professionals will force employers to actively involve older employees. Such employees have professional experience, do not need long-term adaptation, and are often more responsible.

At the same time, the expert pointed out the need to review the working conditions for older employees. In particular, employers should provide for a more flexible schedule, the possibility of part-time employment and remote work.

Kaledina added that an increase in life expectancy and an aging population will also contribute to an increase in demand for older workers, including in the field of social care.

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Artem Abrahamyan, a geriatrician at Krasnogorsk Clinical Hospital, said on Friday, October 2, that a person's well-being is much more important than the numbers in the passport. He noted that the World Health Organization has long classified people over the age of 65 as elderly.

However, in 2025, the classification was revised: now young people are considered to be under 45 years old, average — up to 60 years old, elderly — over 75 years old, senile — up to 90 years old, and centenarians include people over 90 years old.