Are baby‐boomers healthy enough to keep working? Health as a mediator of extended labour force participation

Abstract

One strategy to reduce the economic impact of structural ageing is to increase and/or extend the workforce participation of older workers. Currently, a large proportion of this group consists of post-World War II baby-boomers (1946)(1947)(1948)(1949)(1950)(1951)(1952)(1953)(1954)(1955)(1956)(1957)(1958)(1959)(1960)(1961)(1962)(1963)(1964)(1965) whose characteristics, experiences and attitudes differ markedly from their predecessors. Maintaining good health underpins strategies to extend workforce participation among baby-boomers but there is little hard evidence supporting the assumption that baby-boomers are generally in good health compared to previous generations and will, therefore, be able to work longer. Using a dataset that includes biomedical and self-reported health for a representative sample of South Australian baby-boomers, we analyse the extent to which current labour force participation is mediated by health. We find that health is a significant factor in workforce exits. Respondents with fair-to-poor self-rated health, or with diabetes, arthritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or cardiovascular disease, were more likely to be retired or unable to work, and around 10 per cent of older baby-boomers (born 1946-1955) who have left the workforce rate their health as poor or fair. The data suggest that these patterns are likely to be replicated in younger baby-boomers (born 1956-1965).

A gendered approach to workforce participation patterns over the life course for an Australian baby boom cohort

“…Participants of Sax Institute"s 45 and Up Study were invited to participate in LHH Survey if they were born between 1947 -1951, aged 60 -64 at the time of pilot study in 2011 (Kendig et al, 2014). These participants born during post-war baby boom in the 1940s and 50s are usually referred to as early baby boomers (Buckley et al, 2013). Of the 2,800 invited participants, 1,261 participants provided consent, completed the survey questionnaire and participated in follow-up telephone interviews with the use of selfadministered life history calendars (Kendig et al, 2014).…”

Exploring Workforce Participation Patterns and Chronic Diseases Among Middle-Aged Australian Men and Women Over the Life Course

“…Pit and Byles (2012) identified diabetes, high blood pressure, depression, and arthritis as significantly affecting employment of mature age Australian women. Harris (2008) reported diabetes and cardiovascular disease to have a strong impact on workforce particularly for males, whereas other studies found depression (Buckley, O'Dwyer, et al, 2013;Doshi et al, 2008;Drentea, 2002;Lerner & Henke, 2008;Wang et al, 2014) and arthritis (Backman, 2004;Barrett et al, 2000;Buckley, O'Dwyer, et al, 2013;James, Miller, Brown, & Weaver, 2005;Schofield et al, 2013) significantly influenced workforce participation.…”

“…Various studies have reported chronic diseases as significant factors in workforce participation at older ages. For instance, Temple and colleagues (2011), Harris (2008), and Buckley, O'Dwyer, et al, 2013 identified chronic diseases as a major barrier to continued employment for older Australians. Internationally, Salinas and Peek (2008), Larsen and Pedersen (2013), and Munir, Jones, Leka, and Griffiths (2005) also reported that health issues and particularly chronic diseases affect employment after 60 years.…”

“…Internationally, Salinas and Peek (2008), Larsen and Pedersen (2013), and Munir, Jones, Leka, and Griffiths (2005) also reported that health issues and particularly chronic diseases affect employment after 60 years. Among many chronic diseases, some have been identified as conditions significantly affecting workforce participation at older ages (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2007;Backman, 2004;Barrett, Scott, Wiles, & Symmons, 2000;Buckley, O'Dwyer, et al, 2013;Doshi, Cen, & Polsky, 2008;Herquelot, Guéguen, Bonenfant, & Dray-Spira, 2011;Lerner & Henke, 2008;Majeed et al, 2014;Munir et al, 2005;Salinas & Peek, 2008;Schofield et al, 2013;Yelin et al, 2006). Pit and Byles (2012) identified diabetes, high blood pressure, depression, and arthritis as significantly affecting employment of mature age Australian women.…”

Making the case for older workers

“…Partly, as exemplified by the case of Germany, the desire to work on is generated by insufficient retirement incomes (Fasang, 2012), an issue that is particularly acute for older single women and one that is complicated by failing health, poor work conditions and a lack of quality jobs (Pleau, 2010;Zimmer, Leve, & Naegele, 2010). Secondly, generally improved health among older people means that they are assumed to be more readily able to continue working longer (Buckley, O'Dwyer, Tucker, Adams, Wittert, & Hugo, 2013;Zhan, Wang, Liu, & Shultz, 2009). Thirdly, advances in technology and workplace design may enable older workers, including those with a disability, to continue working to later ages .…”