[Performance capacity of elderly workers--internal and external influencing factors]

Abstract

Internal and external factors affecting ability and performance of older employees are being analyzed in a short literature review. Internal factors like physical capacity, sensory capacity, cognitive abilities and general health are reduced with ageing; their effect on performance, however, depends upon the specific constellation of abilities needed in work tasks and roles. Accumulating experience and work motivation compensate for decreases in most cases or even enable better performance than in younger age groups. High labour costs and negative age stereotypes continue to dismissals, refusal of training and discrimination in the labour market.