text: **5.3 Workforce structure**
  The**workforce**was often set identical with employed workers under a permanent contract, on average 
  mostly male, mainly national, and most of the skills were achieved during apprenticeships or studying. 
  During the past three decades a rapid economic, technological and demographic development took 
  place: the variety of contracts has grown, and the share of women and of an international workforce 
  increased; moreover, the average age of the workforce is rapidly increasing; and technological 
  developments require repeated and often permanent acquisition of new skills. All these developments 
  have shattered traditional ideas and conceptions of working life.297 This also has an impact on OSH. 