INTRODUCTION: As populations in developed countries continue to age, the shrinking workforce and rising dependency ratios pose a threat to productivity and economic stability. This study aims to analyze the relationship between aging, workforce participation, and economic growth, with a special emphasis on how healthcare systems and workforce-specific strategies, such as ergonomic adaptation, lifelong retraining, workplace healthcare delivery, and addressing societal misconceptions about aging, can mitigate premature workforce exit. METHODS: A narrative review was conducted using international reports, policy analyses, and empirical studies from OECD countries. Comparative approaches were applied to examine workforce-oriented interventions and healthcare models, with a special focus on the sections "Policy Responses to Aging" and "Workforce Sustainability and Prevention", as well as "Healthy Aging Strategies". RESULTS: Findings indicate that robust healthcare systems enhance the functional capacity of older adults; however, this alone is insufficient to sustain productivity. Policies that integrate ergonomic adjustments into job design, opportunities for lifelong learning and retraining, workplace-based healthcare programs, and interventions targeting negative perceptions of aging significantly enhance workforce retention. Evidence from Germany, Japan, and Scandinavian countries suggests that combining healthcare investment with proactive workforce management can reduce premature retirement and maintain higher levels of labor participation. DISCUSSION: These findings highlight the critical interdependence between healthcare systems and labor market dynamics in aging societies. While a strong healthcare infrastructure supports the functional capacity of older adults, sustainable productivity requires the integration of ergonomic redesign, continuous learning, and workplace adaptability. Comparative evidence from OECD countries demonstrates that combining medical and policy measures yields superior outcomes. However, the diversity of healthcare financing models and cultural contexts limits the ability to make full generalizations. CONCLUSION: Sustainable economic growth in the face of demographic transitions requires aligning healthcare policy with workforce-specific strategies. Ergonomic redesign, lifelong learning, workplace healthcare delivery, and cultural change regarding aging are as critical as medical care in enabling older adults to remain active contributors to society. Together, these integrated approaches offer a roadmap for developed nations to balance demographic pressures with economic resilience.
Francisco Epelde (Sun,) studied this question.