tööealise

Tööealine is an Estonian term used to describe people who are of working age. It is a demographic and statistical category applied in economics, demography, and social policy to refer to those deemed typically capable of participating in paid work.

The exact ages included in the tööealine group vary by data source and purpose. In many European statistical contexts, the working-age population is defined as individuals aged 15 to 64, but some analyses use ranges such as 15 to 69 or 16 to 64 depending on pension ages and institutional definitions. The term is a classification based on age, not on employment status, so it encompasses employed, unemployed, and economically inactive individuals within the chosen age range.

Tööealine does not imply employment. Being of working age simply indicates eligibility for participation in the labor market; actual participation depends on factors such as education, health, and job availability. Analyses of the tööealine elanikkond are central to assessments of labor market dynamics, economic demand, and pension sustainability, as well as to measures like the dependency ratio.

Etymology and usage: the word combines töö (work) with ealine (age-related), and tööealise is the genitive singular form used in phrases like “tööealise elanikkonna suurus” (the size of the working-age population). It is a common demographic and statistical term rather than a legal status.