This paper considers the theoretical framework and the research approaches applied to study the gender differences among the adult labour force, from a demographic point of view. In addition, a general thematic classification of research published on this topic is proposed. The results of an international analysis on the dynamics of gender differences among the adult labour force in Bulgaria and EU Member States are presented. The main purpose of the paper is to make an outline of the place of Bulgaria among the other EU Member States over the past decade in two selected areas: the adult labour force’s economic activity level and life quality, by gender. This paper contains an analysis of dynamics of selected indicators among adult (aged 55-64) and total (aged over 15) labour force for Bulgaria and the average EU-28 level. The selected period, 2005–2014, covers a time interval characterised by significant changes to the retirement age in Bulgaria and a variety of other European countries. The third aspect of the international comparison outlines the size and scale of gender differences among adult labour force for each selected indicator in Bulgaria and their levels in the other EU countries as well as their evolution in the period studied. The gender differences are calculated as differences between the respective indicators for males and females which is the reason why they can take either positive or negative values. For the purposes of this paper, a variety of sources of data and information was used such as documents from: the European Commission, Eurostat, National Statistical Institute as well as some own research. The analysis covers all the years of the 2005–2014 period for which comparable data has been published.

Workers’ health is a priority for every country because it is the basis for stable economic growth. The paper presents data on the incidence of temporary disability, occupational accidents, and occupational diseases for the period 2000–2014 in Bulgaria. A significant reduction of occupational morbidity was found. However, an anonymous survey with the Eurostat questionnaire among 5185 Bulgarian employees was completed in 2012. Health problem in the last 12 months related to the work was reported by 54.7%. There is a dissonance between the official statistics and the subjective impressions of workers on their health status.

After a brief presentation of the demographic situation in Bulgaria and the resulting problems of labour force, the author propounds the thesis that the parameters of life potential of people in third age are better as compared to those of active age; after the pension reform comes in effect, their labour potential could and should be fulfilled by means of a system of purposeful organizational as well financial measures.

The aim of this paper is to outline trends in changes in Bulgaria’s population health status of the 55–69 age groups by gender (men and women) in terms of their ability to meet the policy for longer paid work. Firstly, similar studies on the relationship between health status and the retirement age increase are analyzed pertaining to different countries in the world. Special attention is paid to the impact of educational level on health status. Then the importance of the age groups of the population from 55 to 69 in total population in Bulgaria is outlined, as well as the prospects for change in the long term, and the economic activity as a socio-economic indicator. The attention is mainly focussed on bio-demographic characteristics, such as life expectancy, life expectancy in good health, proportion of deaths by class-disease and sex, self-assessed health status from the European Health Interview Survey. Arguments have been given on creating conditions for improving the health status of the older labour force according to the possibilities of economic and social environment, which makes the elder people a better resource for development.

The Communication presents data on chronic morbidity in the country and argues that raising the retirement age can be considered as a factor increasing the risk of increased chronic morbidity and disability population.

The communication presents some surveys in the field of public health and health and safety at work that could be used to assess the impact of the extended working age on the health status of the population: – Special representative surveys or specific modules at households’ sample surveys and – Administrative data sources. The presented surveys are conducted by the NSI or other Bodies of Statistics in accordance with the European legislation in order to ensure quality, reliable and comparable statistical information. The communication is presented by the author at the Round Table “Gender effects of policies to extend working life in Bulgaria”, organized by the Research Network of the European Commission COST Action IS 1409: Gender and health impacts of policies extending working life in western countries, and the Institute for Population and Human Studies – Department “Demography”, held on 21.04.2016.

The standard of living of population aged 50-64 is analysed under the impact of changing employment and income and accounting for gender issues. The contribution of females to development which has to include their service rendered at home as well as the care for children is underlined. The effects of present population policies for improvement their wellbeing after the unemployment and poverty caused by the crises are evaluated.

The analysis of women’s participation in employment outlines a number of objective and subjective restrictions based on gender, family, health and other characteristics. The study of these restrictions gives opportunities for overcoming their negative effects through adequate policies. A key role for prolonging women’s employment is played by their professional qualifications and knowledge. From this point of view there is a need for more opportunities for professional development and efficient re-qualification via flexible forms of life-long learning. The elaboration of such policies is an important means to increase economic activity and prolong the working life of women.

The requirements for a retirement right acquisition in Bulgaria are changing windingly. The rules altered several times since the beginning of the reform. The required length of insurance also fluctuates by year and grows weakly. The paper is essentially pragmatic. Discussed questions are: What are the direct consequences of that reform? Does it succeed in achieving desired: lengthening working careers, financial stability of the pension system and adequacy of pensions in old age? How do these changes affect the income of the elderly? What is the conclusion for the pension policies so far and which is the right direction in future?

The quality of life of people at pre-retirement age is a multidimensional problem which cannot be covered in a single paper. Therefore, the study is focused only on some indicators like poverty levels by gender and by economic activity, health status and material deprivation. The group of the population of pre-retirement age is defined as including persons at age between 55 and 64 years who have not gained retirement rights. Statistically significant gender differences could not be identified in the pre-retirement quality of life in Bulgaria. However, the main determinant of the inequalities in the quality of life of the population of pre-retirement age is the economic activity. This is the reason why the most vulnerable groups of living in poverty at pre-retirement age are the unemployed and the persons with no access to the labor market. It is important to notice that despite the fact that the pre-retirement poverty levels are lower as compared to the national average, substantial part of the population in this group suffers some form of material deprivation. The analysis is based on information from NSI, the EU-SILC 2014 for Bulgaria.

The article is about the policies that are carried out in Bulgaria during the recent years in connection with reduction of disparities by gender in the adult labour force on the labour market. In this regard, the effects on the labour market are presented as a result of EU and national policies conducted in recent years, to extend working life. These effects affect women to a much greater degree. The level of employment and unemployment of women and men over 50 is examined as well as the effects of adopted and implemented international and European standards and adopted on their basis policies in the country – legislation, strategies, plans, programs. The thesis is that to achieve equality in employment and incomes and social security of women, the necessary measures are in progress for application of systematic and long-term policy for achieving equality of women and especially of those in older age groups. That includes policies to eliminate discrimination and disparities in pay, in education and continuous training, existing stereotypes about the social function of men and women.

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The Social Security has a potential to reflect very exactly social relations in the State. When there isn’t equality between women and men in the family, economic and social life, this is clearly apparent in the dimensions of social-security benefits and pensions, as well as the continuance of their obtaining by women and men. Several key preconditions have capability for decreasing gender differences. If there is good progress on them, a progress will also be given an account in decreasing not-equality expressed in the labour payment difference, in the social-security benefits and pensions’ differences. At the back of factual gender differences and women’s not-equality psychological and cultural-moral reasons are also there, except economic ones. Towards everyone identified reasons are needed policies and actions oriented to genesis or stereotype, not mainly to the consequences. One concrete policy for decreasing gender differences at elderly labour force could be purposeful development of long-term cares for the parents of people from elderly labour force. Arrangement to long-term care on social-security principle, based on social contributions, like element of multicomponent state social security structure, is possible and reliable alternative.