Review Essay A personal perspective on aging and productivity, with particular reference to physically demanding work

Abstract

The influence of the aging process upon productivity is briefly reviewed, with particular reference to the paradox that decreases in aerobic power, muscle strength, sensory acuity, and cerebral function, together with reduced tolerance of adverse environments and poor health, are not associated with the anticipated losses in ability to undertake work that is physically or mentally demanding. The performance of heavy physical work by an older worker can be improved substantially through a combination of appropriate initial selection of employees, subsequent exercise and lifestyle programmes to maximize function, and ergonomic measures ranging from more frequent rest pauses and a shorter working day to task redesign or automation. Compulsory retirement is an inequitable response to the declining performance of some workers, because there are large inter-individual differences in biological age. Current laboratory and field tests of work capacity also have limited reliability and validity, and it may thus be necessary to rate the performance of older employees on the job. The decision whether to retire in the face of ill-health is currently coloured by financial concerns, but in the future automation may allow increased pension payments, so that the decision to retire would be always made voluntarily.

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