How long can Chinese women work after retirement based on health level: Evidence from the CHARLS

Abstract

ObjectiveTo further enhance the understanding of factors impacting female participation in the workforce based on health levels and to measure the excess work capacity of middle-aged and older female groups by residence and educational level.MethodsData of women aged 45–74 were accessed from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) from 2011, 2013, 2015, to 2018. The health status of women was comprehensively evaluated by single health variables and frailty index. A Probit model was used to measure the excess working capacity of women by region (rural/urban) and educational level, taking all women aged 45–49, rural women aged 45–49, and rural (illiterate) women in all age groups as the benchmark, respectively.ResultsThe excess capacity of all Chinese women aged 50–64 is 1.9 years, and that of women aged 50–74 is 5.1 years. The excess work capacity of women in urban and rural areas and with different educational levels is heterogeneous. The excess working capacity of urban women aged 50–64 is 6.1–7.8 years, and that of urban women aged 50–74 is 9.8–14.9 years. The excess working capacity of urban women aged 50–64 is about 6 times that of rural women. The excess work capacity of highly educated women was 3 times higher than that of illiterate women.ConclusionThe potential work capacity of Chinese women remains to be exploited, especially for urban and highly educated middle-aged and older women with better conditions of health, whose potential is more significant. A rational retirement policy for women and the progressive implementation of an equal retirement age for men and women will contribute to further advancement of gender equality and healthy aging in the workplace in China.

Aging in place in rural Northeast China: a mixed methods examination of the influence of social capital on mental well-being in middle and late adulthood

“…According to Moore and Kawachi (1), it is difficult for individuals to engage in reciprocity exchanges or collective action without the perception of trust. In rural China, a majority of aging adults, as well as middle-aged individuals over 50, primarily engage in agricultural activities (51). Within this context, the interviewees F1 and F2 reported that they assisted their neighbors based on a high level of mutual trust.…”

Overage labor, value perceptions, and happiness in urban older adults’ lives: Empirical evidence from China

“…A study on the labor capacity of retired women in China reveals that the excess labor capacity of urban women aged 50 to 64 is 6.1–7.8 years, while that of urban women aged 50 to 74 is 9.8–14.9 years. Moreover, the excess working capacity of urban women is approximately 6 times that of rural women, and the excess working capacity of highly educated women is 3 times that of illiterate women [ 10 ], and Ulrich refers to this group of people who continue to work after reaching retirement age as “Silver workers” [ 11 ]. This kind of work is known as “bridge employment”, which serves as a link or transition between regular employment and total withdrawal from the labor market [ [12] , [13] , [14] ].…”