Aging workforce and labour market trends in the European Union: A bibliometric analysis

This study examines the main consequences of Europe’s ageing population, including its effects on the labour market, employment dynamics, education, and socio-economic inequalities. It aims to identify and analyse trends and thematic priorities of these challenges, as well as regional differences within the EU (European Union). We used VOSviewer to perform a bibliometric analysis to analyse the publications indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection. The general overview of this area was based on the scientific fields of economics, business and demography. The results show a clear difference in thematic focus between Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries and Western European (WE) countries. The main emphasis in research in CEE countries concerning the challenges of an ageing workforce is on (un)employment. This research takes an optimistic view of the potential benefits of migration. In contrast, research in WE countries focuses primarily on the social impacts of migration, socio-economic inequalities and policy interventions. Moreover, WE studies are cited more frequently and have more influence, indicating their central role in shaping EU-wide discussions and policies. This research led to the conclusion that while ageing remains a challenge for Europe as a whole, regional priorities and the heterogeneity of scientific results reflect different socio-economic contexts and policy requirements. Bridging this gap between regions in different contexts requires a careful and integrated approach that could balance the potential positive effects of migration and address inequalities between Member States. This research highlights the need for collaborative policy and cross-regional knowledge exchange to mitigate the impact of ageing populations on the European labour market and socio-economic structure.