It is difficult to exactly determine what percentage of the labour force hold physically-taxing jobs, but in all likelihood, it would be reasonable and possible for the greater part of the labour force to prolong their careers. An additional factor is the structural decline in the share of physically-taxing jobs owing to the diminishing share of industry in our economy.
This employment shift to services set in many years ago, but is still ongoing. In 1980, industry still accounted for 15% of employment, but this share has now dwindled to less than 10% 5 . The share of construction in our economy remained stable over this period at around 5.5%.