Older Workers in the Market for Part-Time Employment.
Abstract
This paper examines the sources and policy implications of the sparsity of part-time work among older workers. One starting point is the contradiction between expectation -- that the transition out of the labor force will be gradual by means of part-time work -- and what appears to be the reality -- that retirement is sudden. Another starting point is the perception of older workers that part-time work at their current wage is scarce. We begin by reviewing evidence from a number of data sets indicating that, despite statements by older workers that they have a strong interest in part-time work, in most cases retirement is sudden. The country's limited number of partial retirees are concentrated in a few industries (agriculture, service, finance/insurance/real estate). Partial retirement is rare in manufacturing, public utilities, and government. Workers approaching retirement age are not spread evenly across industries. Construction, transportation, and finance/insurance/real estate have a high-than-average proportion. The industries that retain the highest proportion of older workers are trade and government. The industries that accept older workers most readily from other industries are agriculture and trade.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1983
- Accession Number
- ADA133655
Entities
People
- Alan Marcus
- Frank Brechling
- James M. Jondrow