What an aging population means for the global economy

In this week’s episode of the All Things Sustainable podcast, we’re exploring how aging global populations are impacting retirement, the workforce and the economy.

We talk to Pat Tomlinson, President and CEO of global consulting firm Mercer, a Marsh McLennan business. Pat took the reins in 2024 and brings both global perspective and hands-on experience from the World Economic Forum’s Longevity Economy Initiative, which aims to address the demographic and financial challenges of aging societies.

“Having fewer workers as people age and … a lower birth rate will impact employers and will impact business and will impact society as we think about how to grow GDP,” Pat says.

Pat explains how retirement savings and healthcare systems need to evolve to meet the needs of the aging global population. And he outlines creative solutions that employers and governments are considering to address these challenges — including through public-private collaboration, AI, reskilling workers and flexible working arrangements.  

Read the research: S&P Global's Top 10 Sustainability Trends to Watch in 2026 | S&P Global 

Copyright ©2026 by S&P Global  

DISCLAIMER      

By accessing this Podcast, I acknowledge that S&P GLOBAL makes no warranty, guarantee, or representation as to the accuracy or sufficiency of the information featured in this Podcast. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this Podcast is done at your own risk.        

Any unauthorized use, facilitation or encouragement of a third party’s unauthorized use (including without limitation copy, distribution, transmission or modification, use as part of generative artificial intelligence or for training any artificial intelligence models) of this Podcast or any related information is not permitted without S&P Global’s prior consent subject to appropriate licensing and shall be deemed an infringement, violation, breach or contravention of the rights of S&P Global or any applicable third-party (including any copyright, trademark, patent, rights of privacy or publicity or any other proprietary rights).   

This Podcast should not be considered professional advice. Unless specifically stated otherwise, S&P GLOBAL does not endorse, approve, recommend, or certify any information, product, process, service, or organization presented or mentioned in this Podcast, and information from this Podcast should not be referenced in any way to imply such approval or endorsement. The third party materials or content of any third party site referenced in this Podcast do not necessarily reflect the opinions, standards or policies of S&P GLOBAL. S&P GLOBAL assumes no responsibility or liability for the accuracy or completeness of the content contained in third party materials or on third party sites referenced in this Podcast or the compliance with applicable laws of such materials and/or links referenced herein. Moreover, S&P GLOBAL makes no warranty that this Podcast, or the server that makes it available, is free of viruses, worms, or other elements or codes that manifest contaminating or destructive properties.      

S&P GLOBAL EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL LIABILITY OR RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR OTHER DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF ANY INDIVIDUAL'S USE OF, REFERENCE TO, RELIANCE ON, OR INABILITY TO USE, THIS PODCAST OR THE INFORMATION PRESENTED IN THIS PODCAST.