Barriers to Later Retirement for Men: Physical Challenges of Work and Increases in the Full Retirement Age

Abstract

Policy changes intended to delay retirements of older workers and extend their work lives may run up against barriers owing to rising physical challenges of work as people age. We examine whether physical challenges at work influence employment transitions of older male workers in the age range for which public policy is trying to extend work lives and whether older male workers are able to mitigate these challenges while still remaining employed. The evidence indicates that physical challenges pose a barrier to extending work lives, although some older male workers with physically demanding jobs are able to mitigate these demands-either at new jobs or with the same employer. Our findings suggest that greater accommodation of physical challenges faced by older workers would likely increase the success of policies intended to induce later retirement.

Population Aging, Age Discrimination, and Age Discrimination Protections at the 50th Anniversary of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act

“…This is especially the case for women, who live longer than men and often outlive their spouses (Maestas, 2018). While some cognitive and physical skills (McLaughlin & Neumark, 2017) decline near retirement age, most do not. This stability in many skills and abilities contributes to productivity in many common "bridge" jobs (e.g., retail sales, administrative assistants; see Neumark, Burn, & Button, 2019) being largely unaffected by aging (Belbase et al, 2015).…”

Population Aging, Age Discrimination, and Age Discrimination Protections at the 50th Anniversary of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act

“…With each generation being healthier and living longer, there is more capacity for seniors to work longer (Coile et al, 2017). While the physical challenges of work are a barrier to many, these barriers are shrinking as the health of seniors improves and as they identify ways to mitigate these barriers (McLaughlin & Neumark, 2017). This is especially the case for women, who live longer than men and often outlive their spouses (Maestas, 2018).…”

“…This is especially the case for women, who live longer than men and often outlive their spouses (Maestas, 2018). While some cognitive and physical skills (McLaughlin & Neumark, 2017) decline near retirement age, most do not. This stability in many skills and abilities contributes to productivity in many common "bridge" jobs (e.g., retail sales, administrative assistants; see Neumark, Burn, & Button, 2019) being largely unaffected by aging (Belbase et al, 2015).…”

Public Employment Policy for an Aging Workforce

“…Others are voluntarily transitioning into new careers or bridge jobs—part-time or full-time jobs taken as a “bridge” to full retirement. Some older workers are forced out of career jobs involuntarily because of layoffs, while others leave manual work at older ages because they lose the physical capacity to continue ( Chan & Stevens, 2001 ; McLaughlin & Neumark, 2018 ). Many workers who plan to continue working in career jobs at reduced hours as they get older find it impossible to do so, and end up fully retired ( Abraham & Houseman, 2005 ).…”