Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/331741 
Year of Publication: 
2025
Series/Report no.: 
Mapineq deliverables No. D6.2
Publisher: 
INVEST Research Flagship Centre, University of Turku, Turku
Abstract: 
With longer life expectancy and aging populations, enhancing older adults' labour market attachment is a major concern in Europe. Late-career experiences impact financial security, social inclusion, health, and well-being of older population, with continued employment providing social engagement and purpose, while poor conditions or involuntary retirement causing financial and psychological stress. Life-course approach suggests that the accumulated effects of experiences, circumstances and institutional setting affect individual’s life trajectories, including late careers, whereas these accumulated resources are shaped by both individual decisions, values and preferences (agency), and the institutional, cultural, economic and political context (structure) in which individuals live. This report examines inequalities in late-career outcomes across 27 European countries and, for 14 of them, also between the main socio-economic (NUTS 1) regions within countries using the 2021 and 2018 wave of EU-SILC. Six indicators are used as measures of late career outcomes: unemployment, non-employment, occupational status, disposable income, poverty risk, and life satisfaction. The research questions addressed in this report are: 1. Whether late career outcomes are related not only to standard demographic characteristics of older adults, but also to other domains such as health and care needs at the individual level and to potential spill-over effect. 2. Whether, and to what extent differences between and within countries in late career outcomes can be explained by (regional) compositional differences in socio- demographic characteristics of the population. 3. Whether and how do additional contextual factors (beyond compositional differences) influence late careers. Our key findings: − Regional disparities: Significant variations exist in employment, income, and well-being of older adults across countries and regions in Europe. − Individual factors: Looking beyond the standard determinants of labour market attachment (e.g. age, gender, migration background, or education) is important. Health and education, but also family situation (household composition) strongly impact late-career outcomes, with higher educational attainment and better health linked to better employment and financial security. Being without partner while having care responsibilities, relates with higher unemployment and poverty risks. − Compositional factors: Differences in socio-demographic and socio-economic profile among older adults accounts for a considerable amount of variation in late career outcomes across countries and regions. Family composition plays a key role in cross-national differences, while education impacts both national and regional variations. Health has greater influence within countries, particularly on life satisfaction, while residence modestly affects occupational status and income across countries. − Contextual factors: Regional economic structure, overall employment levels, and access to formal care influence older adults' labour market attachment and income security.The findings highlight the need for comprehensive, cross-sectoral policies to enhance older adults' employment prospects and reduce inequalities across countries and regions. Addressing inequalities requires policies supporting lifelong learning, health, care, and poverty reduction. Investment in quality jobs, skills development, and targeted interventions for disadvantaged regions is crucial to improving late career outcomes for older workers.
Persistent Identifier of the first edition: 
Creative Commons License: 
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Document Type: 
Working Paper

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