The IMF’s Report Calls for Action: Reimagining Value in an Ageing Society

When we think about the economic implications of global ageing, the focus is often narrow -  fewer workers, more retired individuals and stretched public systems.

But what if we're missing a bigger opportunity?

The IMF’s latest report highlights that an ageing population doesn’t have to mean economic decline. Not if we rethink how people contribute across a longer life span. It’s no longer just about delaying retirement or working longer in traditional roles; it’s about reimagining value.

That’s where volunteering enters the picture. Not solely as charity, but as a defined strategic response to demographic change.

As more people enter retirement or their later phases of life with increased time, health, freedom, and experience, what holds many back is not capability, but the absence of structure, permission, or pathways to continue contributing meaningfully.

At Futurum Group, we call this the Encore Stage. A phase of life to redefine contributions on your terms - blending purpose, learning, and connection. Through Encore Coaching™, we help individuals and organisations approach the retirement experience as a moment of possibility and opportunity. 

Platforms like Do It Life help to offer these pathways. They help match skills with needs across community, environmental, educational, and global development work. Empowering people to stay connected to their purpose and identity, remain mentally and socially engaged, and make a meaningful impact in the real world

Through Encore Coaching™, we guide people and organisations to:

• Identify causes aligned with personal values and opportunities

• Transition from paid work into high-impact, purpose-led service

• Sustain cognitive and emotional vitality through purposeful action

• Reclaim personal identity and relevance beyond a job title

Retirement does not mark the end of contribution, and volunteering isn’t a “nice to have add-on.” They’re essential to the Longevity Economy and key to a more inclusive, future-ready society. Where impact doesn’t end with retirement, it evolves.

The question isn’t whether older adults can still contribute to society; it’s whether we’re bold enough to build systems that encourage and support them to do so. 

What would our world look like if we fully embraced this Encore potential?