Aging workforce and CEO demographics trend globally

Global labor markets are experiencing a significant trend toward an aging workforce and leadership. Research by economists Kecht, Lizzeri, and Saidi indicates that the average age at which CEOs begin their roles rose from 48 to 55 between 2000 and 2023. This trend is evident in the United States, where 42% of current CEOs are aged 60 or older, and across 19 European countries.

In addition to leadership, the broader workforce is aging. In the United States, the participation rate of baby boomers has increased to 19.2%. In Latin America and the Caribbean, approximately one in four active workers is over the age of 50. Specifically, in Peru, the population of workers aged 45 and older grew by 4.3% in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the previous year.

Data from the OECD suggests that companies with a workforce where the proportion of employees over 50 is 10% higher than the average see a 1.1% increase in productivity. Experts suggest that the key to organizational success lies in managing intergenerational teams, combining the experience and market knowledge of older workers with the new perspectives and technological tools of younger generations.