Grieving for Job Loss and Its Relation to the Employability of Older Jobseekers

Abstract

Introduction: Loss of employment is an experience that is lived and interpreted differently depending on a series of individual variables, including the psychological resources available to the affected person as well as their perception of their degree of employability. Losing one’s job can be one of the most painful and traumatic events a person has to withstand. Following a dismissal, the worker needs to overcome a period of emotional adaptation to the loss. But that period of grieving can also condition the job searching process of the individual and can be influenced by different variables, highlighting the age and work experience. The objective of this study is to analyse the relationship between intensity and type of affliction due to the loss of employment in older workers and their level of employability. Methods: We carried out a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study. The sample consisted of 140 unemployed participants, from 19 to 65 years of age—users of Job Orientation in the Public Employment Service of Andalusia (Spain). Of the total participants, 66 were unemployed and over 45 years of age. They all took the Labour Insertion Potential Assessment Test and the Texas Revised Inventory of Grief, adapted for job loss. Results: Significant differences are shown in the grieving process due to loss of employment between both groups, with the older unemployed living the process more intensely. In relation to the employability potential, differences are found between both groups in terms of availability, perceived difficulties and fears. Interrelationships between total grieving intensity and the importance that older jobseekers give to work are also indicated. Conclusion: Loss of employment and the psychological and health consequences of this situation are identified with those that arise in the grieving process. Older workers present a series of features that determine that their job loss grieving process is more intense and lasts longer than that of other younger workers, regardless of whether the job loss was recent or not. On the other hand, it is shown that the intensity of grieving for job loss is related to the decrease of certain variables that are part of the concept of employability.

Emotion Regulation and Employability: The Mediational Role of Ambition and a Protean Career among Unemployed People

“…One's subjective perception of the difficulties or obstacles that one could encounter during the job-seeking process is also closely related to one's perceived employability [38]. The struggle of an individual in believing in his/her chances of finding employment, while not consistent with facts, can play a specific reactive predictive role [39].…”

“…Among the different taxonomies of factors affecting an individual's employability, central roles are attributed to work centrality, values and goals; availability, adaptability, and difficulties in finding a job; attitudes and fears about the unemployment situation and the search for a new job [38,40].…”

“…In order to analyze individuals' perceived employability and adopted job search strategies, it becomes crucial to consider the role that individuals attribute to their professional life: work centrality, job values, and work goals are essential for active job search behaviours [38,41]. Although most of the research has been performed among workers and students, literature suggests that working towards individual self-realisation and goal clarity is important, as it plays a central role in the activation of proactive behaviours [16].…”

Grief reactions, depression, and anxiety following job loss: patterns and correlates

“…A meta-analysis of longitudinal studies has shown that job loss can cause severe emotional distress (Paul & Moser, 2009 ). Job loss may yield transient reactions of grief (Brewington, Nassar‐mcmillan, Flowers, & Furr, 2004 ; Climent-Rodríguez, Navarro-Abal, López-López, Gómez-Salgado, & García, 2019 ; Diaz et al, 2015 ; cf. Lorenz, Maercker, & Bachem, 2020 , who focused on adjustment disorder after involuntary job loss).…”

A guide for medical practitioners transitioning to an encore career or retirement

“…What may be more difficult to manage, however, are the emotional resources needed to navigate the transition to retirement. In particular, the inevitable loss of self‐identity may lead to anticipatory grief and bereavement 13 . That intending to retire is viewed as a mark of ageing less well by practitioners not only poses a considerable challenge for their retirement planning, but highlights the importance of understanding successful ageing in any discussion of transitioning away from full‐time work in medicine.…”