The 100-year life course approach is a human lifespan and policy framework that rethinks education, work, and social policy in response to longer life expectancy, rapid technological change, and non-linear career pathways. Rather than assuming a traditional three-stage life model—education in youth, work in midlife, retirement in later years—this approach recognizes that many individuals may live and work productively for close to a century, often across multiple careers, roles, and life transitions.

This approach emphasizes planned, periodic reinvestment in learning, skills, and adaptability throughout adulthood, treating mid-career transitions, reskilling, and reinvention as normal and necessary. It provides the policy logic that underpins a learning society, informing the design of age-inclusive education systems, workforce strategies, and social supports that enable individuals to remain engaged, capable, and contributory across a longer life course. Policies and institutions are designed to support adults at every age—whether returning to education at 40, reskilling at 55, or contributing knowledge and mentoring at 70 and beyond. This approach aligns closely with workforce resilience, social mobility, age-inclusive practices, and intergenerational knowledge exchange.

Key features of a 100-year life course framework:

• Multi-stage lives: Individuals move through recurring cycles of learning, work, caregiving, and reinvention rather than fixed, linear stages.
• Lifelong learning systems: Education providers, employers, and communities offer flexible, modular, and stackable learning opportunities aligned to different life stages.
• Extended working lives: Longer careers require periodic reinvestment in skills, health, and adaptability, rather than early exit from the workforce.
• Mid-career transitions are the norm: Career shifts, not just promotions, are expected and supported through accessible learning pathways.
• Shared responsibility: Individuals, employers, educational institutions, and governments collectively invest in ongoing skill development and learning access.

In the context of rapid automation and AI-driven change, the 100-year life course model underscores the importance of continuous capability renewal, ensuring that individuals can remain engaged, productive, and adaptable throughout longer lives.

See also: Learning Society | Learn & Work Ecosystem Library