Occupational Transitions Among Older Workers

Published: 2016
Project ID: UM16-03

Abstract

Understanding how and why people exit the labor force at older ages bears importantly on our ability to develop salutary retirement policy. Little is known, however, about the relationship between occupational transitions, job skills and demands, and work decisions. We propose to build on our current work on occupations and work characteristics in the Health and Retirement Study, linked to detailed information in the Occupational Information Network database. The proposed project would extend this work by considering detailed employment history and actual retirement and employment flows. What realistic options for continued work are available to people at traditional retirement ages, given their particular set of skills and experience? This descriptive work will provide clues about useful areas to investigate. This program of research will add to our understanding of the trend toward working longer and the alternate routes now being taken to retirement.

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