Factors effecting the Decision to Continue Working or Retire Early

Författare

Kerstin Nilsson

Summary, in English

In most of the industrial world the fractions of older people continuously increase (OECD, 2011). The
upcoming demographic change is described as a threat to societal service. Many societies have to
motivate people to work until an older age to increase the number of working hours in the economy
(Eurostat, 2010).
Factors important to whether older workers extend their working life are complex, multidisciplinary
and involve many different research areas (Nilsson, 2013). Many factors as health, work environment
and organisations policies interact and affect the possibility to work in old age. Mental and physical
working environment, work pace and skills/competence also associate to if older workers can be a part
of an extended working life (Nilsson et al., 2011). Additional, work as an important part of life, working
time and management attitude to older workers associated to if older workers want to work beyond 65
years of age. Some studies indicated that people who participate in the working life in an upper age
imaging a better mental and physical health (Takashi, 2003). However it seem to depend on demands
in their working life, work satisfaction and occupational grade (Westerlund et al., 2009). Economic
incentives from salary, in the retirement insurance system and social system also effect the retirement
decision (Jokela et al., 2010). Also the family situation an if the older worker plans the retirement with
a partner affect the retirement decision (Cobb-Clark & Stillman, 2009). As described the decision to
retirement or an extended working life is multifactorial (Nilsson, 2013). In the attention to delay the
retirement age it is interesting and important to understand the interaction and which factors older
workers put in their weighing pans for the retirement decision.

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