Ålder som hinder?

: En kvalitativ studie om hur personer över 40 år beskriver yrkesväxling och mötet med arbetsmarknaden

Abstract

Introduction: Sweden is facing a demographic change in which the proportion of older people in the population is increasing while life expectancy continues to rise. This places greater demands on a prolonged working life and lifelong learning, making questions of age and competence increasingly important. Aim: The aim of this study was to examine how individuals over the age of 40 and representatives from labour market-related organisations describe opportunities and barriers to career change through higher education, and how age-related perceptions influence their experiences of the labour market. Method: The study was conducted as a qualitative interview study with an inductive approach. Data were collected through nine semi-structured interviews with individuals over the age of 40 and representatives from labour market-related organisations. The collected material was analysed using qualitative content analysis, in which meaning units were identified, coded, and grouped into categories. Results: The results show that career change later in working life is a complex process in which individual and structural factors interact. Higher education can function as an enabler, particularly in combination with previous work experience. The results also indicate that previous work experience is not always valued in recruitment processes, and that establishment in the labour market may be experienced as more uncertain and time-consuming later in working life. The study further highlights a contradiction between society’s demands for lifelong learning and the conditions of the labour market. Conclusion: The study demonstrates the need to address age-related norms and strengthen structural conditions for career change later in working life. The results may contribute to a greater understanding of how age, education, and the labour market interact in relation to opportunities for labour market integration and health equity.

Date of Award	2026-Jun
Original language	Swedish
Supervisor	Camilla Malm (Supervisor) & Annika Rosén (Examiner)