Longevity and the Workplace

According to the World Health Organization, in 2010 there were an estimated 524 million people aged 65 and older. This number is expected to triple by 2050.

A reflection of this trend can be seen in recent developments at the centenarians team's Anniversaries office.

In the U.K., the Queen traditionally sends a telegram to citizens on their 100th birthday. At one time, demand was sufficient to employ one person (who likely had plenty of other duties to perform as well). Today, it requires a team of seven.

As the population ages, we all need to adapt our working practices in response. To explore the implications of this, I went to see Professor Andrew Scott at the London Business School, who is writing a book on the topic.

Scott foresees an end to the current three-stage life that reflects education, work and retirement. The new model, he says, will consist of many more stages.

In this audio clip, he predicts what this will mean for society.

Listen to the full interview ¦ Install Flash Player.

He calls one of the new stages, comprised of people aged 18 to 35, the "beconomy." Listen to the full, fascinating interview here, to find out how the beconomy and the economy interact and what this means for the world of work – and for all of our lives.

Question: How has the possibility of a longer life affected the way you think about your career? Let us know below!