Ageing and Digitalisation of the Working Life: An Introduction

Abstract This introductory chapter examines how digitalisation impacts older workers in European labour markets. It clarifies key terms—digitisation, digitalisation, digital economy, and digital divide—setting the stage for understanding how the digital transformation is reshaping work environments and older workers’ experiences. Drawing on secondary data, including Eurostat and European Commission statistics, policy analyses, and survey results, the chapter synthesises knowledge of workplace digitalisation, employment policies, and critical debates on digital inequalities. Findings reveal both opportunities (improved working conditions, technological inclusion, better health management) and challenges (skill gaps, cognitive demands, risk of job loss) for older workers. The chapter addresses academic debates on whether digitalisation empowers or disadvantages older workers, noting that rapid technological change can marginalise those without digital skills. It concludes that digitalisation profoundly transforms the labour market, and it identifies knowledge gaps in the area and introduces chapters of the anthology that aim to address these gaps.