The Employment of Seniors in France

France, like Poland, is still far from the Lisbon goal of a 75 percent employment rate of the active population between fifteen and sixty–four. At around 40 percent, the senior employment rate is much too low in both countries. Successive French governments have tried to implement various measures at a national level. None have provided the expected return on investment. Meanwhile, conditions for retirement have been modified several times. Some changes induced longer work and/or contribution periods, while others facilitated early retirement—subject to certain conditions with either a positive or a negative impact on future pensions, depending on the type of modification.