In order to understand the situation of people over 50 in the labour market it is necessary to take into consideration the characteristics of changes occurring in the physical, psychological and social spheres.

Changes in psycho-physical development

Among physical changes in the age group 40-60, the most often mentioned in the subject literature are (Bee, 1998):

• Changes in the reproductive system. They are ones of the most important changes in midlife and old age, referred to as menopause, when the possibilities of reproduction disappear both in women and men. Although in men the process is more subtle and much slower, the reduction of vitality of sperm, the reduction of volume of testicles, the diminishing of testosterone and, what follows, cases of impotence have an important influence on their daily functioning, psychological self-image and therefore on the functioning in the labour market.

Unfortunately, there are a number of myths about menopause in men and women, in which it is presented as a great shock connected with emotional instability, nervousness, neurosis, depression morbidity, etc.

It is worth mentioning that a few longitudinal research projects conducted all over the world did not prove that menopause in women has any connections with depression, morbidity or any other serious psychological symptoms (Bush, Zonderman, Costa, 1994; Hallstrom, Samuelsson, 1985; Matthews and others, 1990; Mc Kinley, Brambilla, 1987).