"Over the last decade life-course arrangements have been introduced in several EU Member States with the aim of enhancing in a coherent way individual flexibility and employability over an employee's whole working life. In this article we examine the effects of existing schemes with a life-course dimension in terms of employability, comparing four schemes in three countries. The conclusion we arrive at is that the schemes are mainly used for early retirement or achieving short-term benefits, while the uptake of provisions specifically related to employability is not very high. More attractive forms of working-life accounts should refocus on easily accessible basic schemes with short-term objectives and endowed with a sufficient budget for achieving long-term employability goals. They need to be underpinned and supplemented by collectively bargained company-level agreements."

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