21st Century Challenges

Fewer Britons in work due to ageing population and emigration rather than migrants, says report

Demographic changes including an ageing population and rising emigration from Britain lie behind the fall in the number of UK-born people in work, rather than the arrival of new migrants, according to research published yesterday.

Britain’s ageing population ‘as big a threat as climate change’

Britain's ageing population poses as big a threat to the country as climate change, a Government minister has warned.

Facing up to the challenges of an ageing population

The insurance industry has it all to play for as baby boomers change their investment portfolio in readiness for retirement

Britain becomes a nation of pensioners

For the first time, Britain's over-65s outnumber all the children under 16

Meet the panel for ‘Britain’s population time-bomb’

Read the biographies of the panel for 'Britain's population timebomb' event in June 2009. Angela Eagle MP, George Magnus,and Samira Ahmed

British compulsory retirement age can stay at 65, says European court

British businesses can continue to force employees to retire at age 65 without breaking EU rules, the European court of justice ruled today.

Britain to become the biggest country in Europe by 2050, United Nations report says

Britain is set to become the biggest country in the European Union by 2050, fuelled by nearly 200,000 new migrants every year, according to estimates from the United Nations

Britain’s ageing population

A 60 second guide to Britain's ageing population

Britain’s ageing population

Read an introduction to the challenges and benefits of Britain's ageing population.

Quality of life ‘getting worse for older people’

Effects of age discrimination, poverty and neglect worse than in previous years, says charity report

Migrant rule change was unfair on skilled workers

Thousands of highly skilled migrants may receive compensation after the High Court ruled that changes to the rules under which they originally entered Britain were unfair

Top 10 places for retirement

With fun and fitness on the agenda, baby boomers are retiring to towns that have it all.

The end of final-salary pensions?

2009 will see a number of large organisations making a fundamental change to their company pensions - cancelling final salary schemes for existing members.

Europe looks towards robots to care for its elderly

By 2050, Europe is expected to have more than 80 million people over the age of 65. Many will be able to live active, independent lives, but some will need more help, and with birth-rates dropping some countries are looking at the options for robotic care.

Why low migration levels threaten the UK’s economic and social health

The falling fertility rate and an ageing population mean too little immigration may turn out to be a bigger problem for the UK than too much migration.

EU migration is working

Instead of sending out mixed messages, the government needs to take the courage to say that migrants have helped us

Baby boom Britain won’t retire quietly

For the first time ever, the number of Britons over 65 exceeds those under 16. As the country grows older, the demand is growing for people to be able to work beyond pensionable age. And with advanced years comes growing political power - so the debate about retirement age is set to intensify

Retirement gap years: mum’s gone to India

The “grey gap year” market is booming. Some 200,000 Britons of retirement age embark on long-haul trips every year, spending an average £5,000 per trip.

It’s better to keep older people in work

Forcing people to retire is at odds with a positive vision for our ageing society

Ageing’s silver lining

Singapore's location in Asia, the world's fastest-ageing region, places it in a prime spot to seize the economic and social opportunities that come with ageing

Overseas workers in UK more able to keep jobs

Foreign-born workers are proving more successful at holding on to their jobs in the recession than their British-born counterparts, according to Financial Times research.

Seven in ten Britons want immigration slashed

Seven in 10 Britons want immigration cut by 80 per cent as the issue continues to be a main concern for the public.

Opinions shift towards longer working hours

A majority of Britons now favour longer working lives if it means a more generous pension in retirement, a significant shift of opinion in the few years since the subject was raised by the Pensions Commission report in 2005

Birth rate highest since 1973

Seventh consecutive annual rise for England and Wales sees birth rate increase to 1.95 children per woman

Birth rate highest since 1973

Seventh consecutive annual rise for England and Wales sees birth rate increase to 1.95 children per woman

George Magnus: Britain is growing old and we’re not ready

Baby-boomers pose an economic threat, George Magnus says. Will the Government take heed?

Majority are resigned to working longer after pension collapse

The majority of Britons accept they will be forced to work beyond 65 after watching the value of pensions collapse. Six in ten said they realised they would have to stay in jobs longer to save up more money, a poll shows.

Baby-boom workers become pension aristocrats

Workers over 50 in white collar, management roles have the most valuable pensions, paying two-thirds of their final salary

Britain’s population time-bomb? The challenges and opportunities of an ageing society

More will need to work beyond 65 as Wales’ population ages, suggests expert

Wales has to wake up to the challenge of an ageing workforce with more than 40% of the population likely to be aged 50 and over by 2031.

US pensioners mentally ‘10 years younger’ than those in England

Researchers found that Americans had better memories, were quicker witted and were generally smarter than their English counterparts. And the older the pensioner, the greater the difference, claimed researchers.

End of retirement age signal

The government has brought forward by a year a review of the default retirement age of 65.

Baby bust nations will face hard times as populations age

Population growth is beneficial for any economy, but for investors it is better if the median age of that population is low, ie a young economy.

Social care green paper: reaction in quotes

The government has set out its blueprint for reforming care for older and disabled people. Key figures in the social care sector give their response

Ageing Britain: number of 85-year-olds will more than double

Official population projections show the number of people aged 85 will rise from 1.3 million last year to 3.3 million by 2033. The Office for National Statistics figures also show that that on current trends, there will be soon be fewer than three people of working age to each pensioner.

Care for elderly a priority say Prime Minister

Improving the care available for the elderly will be Labour's domestic policy "priority" should it win the next election, Gordon Brown has said.

MPs urge ‘70m population cap’ in party manifestos

A cross-party group of MPs and peers have called on the main parties to make a manifesto pledge not to allow the UK's population to exceed 70 million.