Driving, Residential Location, and Employment Outcomes Among Older Adults

Abstract

The ability to drive is positively associated with workforce participation among older adults. However, residence in neighborhoods where destinations are easy to reach by public transit could potentially narrow the employment gap between older drivers and non-drivers. This study examines the relationship between driving, residential location characteristics, and employment outcomes among older adults. Findings show that both drivers and non-drivers are more likely to be employed if they live in neighborhoods with high levels of access to jobs via public transit. However, the positive relationship between transit access to jobs and employment outcomes is particularly strong among non-drivers. These findings indicate that although older adult drivers are more likely to work than their non-driving counterparts, the gap in employment outcomes is mitigated by living in dense, transit-rich neighborhoods. Results suggest that policies supporting both automobile access and transit-rich residential environments can facilitate labor force participation among older adults.

From Transportation Equity to Accessibility Capability: A New Framework to Guide Transportation Planning for Older People

“…Those whose wealth and resources are sufficient to ensure their existing environment continues to offer them accessibility find that increasing years, and even medical conditions, do not preclude their desired lifestyle. However, those who lack such resources are faced with the challenge of compensating for a decline in mobility by moving to a more suitable place or using new technologies (Li, Hu and Guo 2022; Schouten, Blumenberg and Wachs 2022a). In contemporary U.S. society, this is the challenge faced by many older workers with low incomes who, if they cannot compensate for a decline in mobility, may be forced to leave their jobs early.…”