The reality of high unemployment adds to the strain on workforce support of pensioners.
Demographic trends mean no new supply of young people to pay pensions for older workers.
The ratio in many European countries will be five or six workers to one retired person. Labor unions are still an active force in Europe with high representation among blue collar, white collar and pink-collar groups. Even professions like physicians have union-like organizations that actively represent their interests. During the 1960s, unions secured most of the entitlements that workers have come to expect. Although they can use economic leverage through strikes, they are not merely pressure groups, but are actively involved in the political process.