Six partner organizations from five European countries – Bulgaria, Finland, Germany, Poland, and Slovenia have cooperated to implement the Erasmus+ project "Silver Grow - career guidance and digital education for enterprise senior workers."

As part of the Silver Grow project activities in Work Package n°2 - Forum group for exchanging ideas and practices, we conducted comprehensive, in-depth interviews in each partner country with 25 employers and 25 employees, ensuring a thorough understanding of the situation. The in-depth interviews aimed to gain a rough insight into the practice of companies in the occupational integration of employees 50+.

The interview results were summarized in a Synthesis Report.  It provides initial findings into the challenges, needs, expectations, and barriers in company culture, personnel leadership, personnel management, digital transformation, work organization, health, innovation, and knowledge transfer.  The Silver Grow partnership will utilize the findings from the in-depth interviews when defining senior workers' support measures. 

Multimedia information on this activity: 

The Synthesis Report with findings from the in-depth interviews can be downloaded from here: LINK

On March 20, 2024, the Panel for Experts - Finland took place online as part of the Silver Grow project. The event focused on career guidance and digital education for senior workers and gathered 63 specialists, including HR managers, career advisers, and employment experts, to discuss the challenges and opportunities for employees aged 50+ in the workforce. The panel addressed age-related workplace prejudices, digital transformation, and career management. 

Experts presented findings from in-depth research and shared best practices from Finland and partner countries, emphasizing age-conscious leadership, mentorship programs, and digital upskilling. A key highlight was the “DigiSkills - Power for Career Continuation” initiative, which supports seniors in adapting to technological changes. 

Following the presentations, an interactive discussion covered strategies to retain and support senior employees, including flexible work arrangements, intergenerational knowledge transfer, and career coaching. Experts also tackled stereotypes about 50+ employees and ways to motivate lifelong learning. Key insights were shared with major Finnish media, including Helsingin Sanomat and Aamulehti, ensuring wider visibility. As part of Silver Grow, these discussions will shape future policies for integrating senior workers into evolving workplaces.

Full information: LINK

Panel for Experts – Online Meeting in Bulgaria 

The second Expert Panel was held as a Zoom-organized event on November 17, 2023, in Bulgaria. During the session, VEDA presented key findings from the Silver Grow Joint Research, conducted across project partner countries, focusing on individuals aged 50 and above. The presentation highlighted challenges related to the aging population in Bulgaria. 

The Sofia-based Institute for Market Economy provided a statistical overview of demographic and labor market trends for Varna individuals aged 50 and older.  To foster synergies with other Erasmus+ projects addressing aging populations, the Balkan Agency for Sustainable Development shared insights from its comparative study, What Works in Peer Mentoring for People 50+, and provided a brief overview of the Peer Mentoring Program developed under the PEER-TRAIN project.

Following the presentations, distinguished speakers, including the Rector of the Economic University-Varna, the Head of the Territorial Office of the National Service for Agricultural Advisory, and other experts, contributed to the discussion by sharing their experiences in employing individuals aged 50 and above.

Full information: LINK

The first Panel for experts took place in an online meeting on 27th April 2023 in Katowice. It presented issues relating to people 50+, including their situation in the Polish labor market in statistical terms, the competencies currently desired by employers, and the aspect of 50+ employees in the context of the digitization of enterprises. After the presentations, the floor was taken by experts who answered questions about their experiences of employing 50+ people. 

Full information: LINK

Multimedia information about all expert panels: LINK

The Comparative Analysis of Tools, part of the Silver Grow project, aimed to identify and evaluate effective strategies for supporting senior workers in the workplace. This study examined best practices, training methods, and digital upskilling solutions from various countries. The analysis findings have been used to develop the Silver Grow Interactive Course that provides tailored support for senior employees, promoting active aging and career development in an evolving job market.

As part of the Silver Grow Erasmus+ Project, we carried out desk research on the labor market situation of older people in all partner countries - Slovenia, Poland, Finland, Germany, and Bulgaria. The results showed that all countries participating in the research face the same problems (aging population, declining birth rates). As a result, all countries are experiencing an increasing number of older workers who still need to work, as the retirement threshold is rising and pensions are decreasing.

Click here for Joint Report