Study Shows More Californians Working Longer

According to a report issued by the California Budget Project, employment rates of Californians at or near retirement age continued to rise even during the economic downturn. Specifically, in 2008, 63% of people age 55 to 64 were employed, up from 58.4% in 2000 and 54.8% in 1995 after having been fairly stable before then (1995 was just up 1.2% from 1979). For older workers, those 65 to 69, 29.7% were working in 2008, up from 22% in 2000.

When looking at the numbers on a gender basis, the Budget Project found that the trends for men and women aged 55 to 69 varied. While about half of women are still working, a figure that has climbed steadily from 32% in 1979, the percentage of working men declined from 58% in 1979 to 51% in 1995, then rebounded to 60.7% in 2008.

Looking more closely at the current economic downturn, older workers have been increasing their participation rates while they drop for younger workers. Thus, the share of Californians age 55 to 64 who were employed increased by 0.9% between 2007 and 2008 (from 62.1% to 63%) and the employment rate of Californians age 65 to 69 rose by 4.5% (from 25.2% to 29.7%), while the share of Californians age 25 to 54 who were employed declined by 1.2% 2007 and 2008.

Sources: California Budget Project Policy Points (April 2009); San Jose Mercury News "More Californians working later in life, especially women" (April 7, 2009)

New Zealand: Survey Shows Surge in Number of Older People in Paid Work

According to a new analysis published by the New Zealand Department of Labour, more older New Zealand workers are staying on the job, with New Zealand recording one of the highest workforce participation rates in the OECD for the 50-64 year age group. The report--"Older People in Work: Key Trends and Patterns 1991-2005"--shows a surge in the number of older people in paid work, with 77% of 50-64 year olds working in 2005, compared with just 57% in 1991. By comparison, Australia’s participation rate is around 10 percentage points lower, according to Department of Labour Group Manager for Workforce Policy Lesley Haines.

Haines particularly noted that the growth of participation by older women--from about 45% to about 70%. “Factors contributing to this growth include the fact that women are pursing careers across their lifetime, technological changes to the nature of work and ongoing skills shortages. Raising the age eligibility for superannuation has also played an important part."

She also pointed to additional research released by the Department of Labour--"45 plus: Choices in the Labour Market"--which provides an insight into drivers and barriers to paid work for people over the age of 45.

Source: New Zealand Department of Labour News Release (March 6, 2007)

The report is also available in PDF or Word formats.

Study: Links between the Work and Health of Older Women Go Unexplored

A report issued by Help the Aged and The Age and Employment Networks (TAEN) hows how little is known about the work and health of older women. According to the findings of of the paper--"Older Women, Work and Health--reviewing the evidence", greater commitment to age and gender equality is needed in occupational health research, the organisation of work, workplace health interventions and in the framing of wider social policy if the needs of older working women are to be met.

Pamela Holmes, healthy ageing spokeswomen for Help the Aged, says: “We believe taking action in mid-life is vital to preventing deprivation and to reducing the risk of ill health in old age. Women live longer than men, but earn far less, with lower levels of savings and pension provision. It’s critical that women who need or want to work in their 50s and beyond should be able to so – and for work to be beneficial rather than detrimental to their health.

“We hope the publication of this report will help draw attention to the gaps in our knowledge in this important area. We urge government, employers, occupational health professionals and researchers to take steps to address the issues raised.”

Source: The Age and Employment Network (TAEN) Press Release (November 7, 2006)

United Kingdom: Delivering Healthier, Safer Workplaces for All Ages

Over one third (36.5%) of UK workers believe they will be unable to do their job at 60, according to the latest statistics, revealed in Hazards Magazine. The report--'Going strong'--shows that the great majority of employees have no significant health impediments to prevent them working up to 65, or beyond if they wish, yet poor health is the most common reason why people over 50 leave a job, with only half retiring early by choice. Hazards calls on employers to stop using bogus health and safety excuses to get rid of, or not employ older people, and start helping keep the ageing UK population in work and off benefits.

A special feature on older workers by editor Rory O’Neill spells out the measures necessary to deliver healthier workplaces for all, regardless of age. Among other things, the article points out that improving health and longevity mean the great majority of workers have no significant health impediments to prevent work up to the age of 65 and for many, where they wish, beyond, and that workplace health and safety considerations are not a valid reason to prevent older workers continuing in work.

Age management strategies must target “ageing” rather than just “older” workers. Planning occupational health interventions and devising job redesign or alternative work in good time, with policies looking at workers in the 45+ age group, will provide greater scope for creating suitable and healthy work transitions. Career structures should allow a shift to more suitable work, where necessary or desirable.

Among the topics explored in detail are:

• workplace health, citing findings that “older workers do not have more accidents in the workplace.”
• older women, older workers, which notes that the impact of work on the health and employability of older women workers is particularly neglected, so that strategies must be both age and gender sensitive to ensuring the “work ability” of older women workers.
• safety rep's checklist

In addition, the article provides links to sources and websites pertaining to the issues discussed.

Sources: Hazards Magazine "Not dead yet" (No. 96, October-December, 2006); Trade Union Congress Press Release (November 24, 2006)

Burgeoning Number of Older Women Being Forced Back into the Workplace

Writing for the Chicago Tribune, Bonnie Miller Rubin tells the story of how women are particularly vulnerable to the eroding retirement backstops--Social Security, company pensions and personal savings--because they tend to start working later, earn less and live longer. Citing U.S. Department of Labor statistics that show that the number of women over 65 in the workforce has increased by 38% since 1980, while male participation has remained stable, she shows how ill-prepared many women are for this stage of life, which can stretch two decades beyond age 65.

Women's lifetime earnings look different on average than those of men. Women are concentrated in low-wage or part-time jobs and can lack experience dealing with financial matters. They are more apt to drop out of the workforce to be a caregiver, resulting in more meager assets. Such reasons help explain why older women are flocking to job fairs and filling out applications in record numbers, experts say.

Rubin quotes Cindy Hounsell, president of the Women's Institute for a Secure Retirement, who testified about the retirement gender gap before the Senate Committee on Aging, that as saying that it is a "startling post-retirement picture for millions of women who have worked their entire lives."

Source: "More working women find they can't afford to retire" Chicago Tribune (April 24, 2006) Need to register (free)

Singapore: Companies Commit to Reemploy Retired Workers

Dominique Loh reports for Channel NewsAsia that Singapore's labour movement has signed on 23 companies that have committed to re-employ workers after they retire at 62. In addition, as part of the $30 million effort that the Tripartite Committee on Employability of Older Workers and the Singapore Workforce Development Agency have called the ADVANTAGE! Scheme, the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) is getting more companies to adjust their work environments, so they can also accommodate older workers.

Some companies say hiring older workers hinge on several factors like work attitude, past performances and the medical and physical well-being of these workers. But NTUC's Secretary-General Lim Boon Heng noted there are other challenges ahead. He said the labour problem for Singapore was even more acute when it comes to women, because they leave the workforce when they start a family to raise children. And as women grow older, the percentage of those who remain in the workforce also drops significantly, and bearing in mind most women also live longer than men. Mr Lim said one way to combat this problem was finding part-time jobs that women can fulfil in the workforce.

Source: " 23 companies pledge to re-employ older workers" Channelnewsasia.com (February 7, 2006)

Helping Women Overcome a Grey Ceiling: Tory Johnson

Tory Johnson, chief executive officer of WomenForHire.com and author of "Women For Hire's Get-Ahead Guide to Career Success," was interviewed on ABC's "Good Morning America" and gave advice to women on how to beat the perception that youth rules in the workplace and how to get the most of one's career as one get older. Johnson says Americans over 40 in search of jobs are encountering something they weren't looking for: a "gray ceiling"--a career advancement barrier that many older workers face in a workplace seemingly dominated by young people. Among the tips she offered on on how to make age an asset, not an obstacle, in the workplace, are:

• Don't use age as a crutch.
• Anticipate the stereotype and be prepared to counter it.
• Don't focus on age, focus on experience.
• Anticipate industry-specific opposition.

Source: "How Women Can Avoid the 'Gray Ceiling' at Work" ABC News: Good Morning America (May 24, 2005)