WORKPLACES must be adapted to reflect an increasingly age-diverse workforce, Age Friendly Ireland has said.

Charles McAllister, Age Friendly Ambassador for Cork county, is among those promoting the importance of age-friendly workplaces and supporting employers to plan for an ageing workforce.

As people live longer and healthier lives, many want – and need – to remain in the workplace for longer.

Age Friendly Ireland said this shift presents a significant opportunity for employers willing to embrace flexibility, inclusive cultures and long-term workforce planning.

Its annual conference highlighted insights from its Workplace Pathfinder Programme, which brought together businesses, recent retirees, and people approaching retirement age to understand what needs to change to support the fast-growing older population.

These insights include workforce succession planning, phased retirement models, increased pension planning, and addressing harmful stereotypes in the workplace.

A nationwide survey of workers aged 45-65 found flexible working arrangements are the single biggest support needed to enable people remain in the workplace longer, with 37% of respondents identifying it as a key priority.

Francis Brennan, former hotelier and Kerry Age Friendly Ambassador said: ‘One of the most important conversations we need to have in Ireland today is about how we value older people in the workplace.

‘Experience, diverse perspectives and resilience are enormous assets to any organisation. Older workers bring insights, stability and real-world knowledge that strengthen multigenerational teams. If we truly want to plan properly for our future as a country, we need to ensure our workplaces reflect our ageing population.’

Visit agefriendlyireland.ie for more information.