This project investigates how technological change—robotization, ICT, and artificial intelligence (AI)— affects retirement intentions and expected working life across European countries, including the Netherlands.

The sustainability of pension systems hinges not only on demographic trends but also on how labor markets adjust to ongoing technological transformation. While governments seek to extend working lives to ensure pension viability, new technologies may either facilitate or hinder this goal. For example, robotization can reduce physical strain and prolong employability, but may also erode autonomy, task variety, and meaningfulness (Nikolova et al., 2024), leading workers to retire earlier. AI introduces a new dynamic: it may substitute human work in some (e.g., high-skilled) occupations while complementing and enhancing productivity in others. Understanding how these forces shape retirement expectations is crucial for pension policy.

The central question in this research project is: Does technological change accelerate or delay retirement intentions, and under which institutional conditions?