Towards Age-Friendly Employment in Times of Digitalisation: Policies and Practices Addressing Rural Areas in Estonia, Ireland, Poland, and Slovenia
摘要
The chapter explores whether and how digitalisation can support age-friendly employment strategies in rural areas of Estonia, Ireland, Poland, and Slovenia, using the World Health Organisation (WHO) conceptual framework. It focuses on rural ageing populations facing socio-economic shifts from agriculture to services, while struggling with digital exclusion. Despite different historical and modernisation contexts, these trends are broadly similar across the four countries. Based on an integrative review of policy documents, academic literature, and research reports, the chapter finds that rural older workers are largely overlooked in national and EU-level strategies. Only Ireland shows limited initiatives addressing this group’s digital inclusion. These outcomes strengthen the case for including an intersectional approach in research and policymaking, as well as sensitising the concept of age-friendly employment to specific contexts of the workplace and place of residence. A more nuanced approach to older workers is needed, requiring a deeper understanding of how age, gender, socio-economic status and location intersect.