Working After State Pension Age: Quantitative Analysis

Abstract

• Working beyond SPA is only a strong possibility for those working in the run-up to this stage. It is difficult to re-enter the labour market having left it. Moreover, many of those leaving work may be doing so on health grounds, or because they have sufficient resources to live on in retirement. Rates of working for those who do continue to work drop relatively quickly after 60/65. Even if more people can be encouraged to work after this age, on current trends they would not work for many more years. The aim of this research was to further understanding about the factors affecting the labour market participation of older people at, and after, State Pension Age (SPA). The report presents findings based on cross-sectional analyses of the Labour Force Survey and Family Resources Survey and longitudinal analyses of the British Household Panel Survey. The report examines the circumstances under which people work after SPA, the types of jobs they have, and the impact working post-SPA has on the wealth, health and happiness of the working compared with the non-working retired population. In addition, the research examined how far decisions to work after SPA can be viewed in a positive light and the extent to which they are a reluctant, constrained choice.