Who Wants to Work?: The Working Life of Middle Age Adults
Employment is an important role for midlife adults in many parts of the world, for men and women alike (Dittmann-Kohli, 2005; Kin & Moen, 2001). It is widely accepted that majority of middle-age adults participate in paid labor, with varying salaries nationwide. Accroding to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the middle adulthood era remains at a lower unemployment rate than younger generations (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2009a). Throughout different societies and communities, work and retirement depict different meanings for each individual person. For some, work and retirement may be a source of income or a source of status and identity; while for others work and retirement may be a life routine and a way of structuring time (Hutchinson et al., 2011, p.343).
Affluent middle-aged adults have shown a continuous decline in the average age of retirement, particularly among men (Kim & Moen, 2001; Moen, 2004). Researchers suggest that this trend in early retirement may be due to healthier and better education amongst midlife that previous generations. Hutchinson et al. (2011) examines four trends that are constantly changing the work patterns of middle age adults, but there are three trends which need to be examined more in depth:
1. Greater job mobility among middle-aged workers is becoming an everyday norm. Changes in the global economy have produced job instability, forcing middle-age workers to acquire new trades and skills to better adapt to changing job skill requirements.
2. Greater variability in the timing of retirement is also becoming an area of great interest amongst this group because while the average age of retirement is drastically decreasing, there are still many other midlife adults are working well into their 60s or early 70s. The decision to retire is drive by both health and financial status (i.e. availability of pension benefits) (Han & Moen, 1999 et al.). Many people now “phase” into retirement.
3. Increasing educational reentry has become quite interesting amongst this particular age group because contrary to majority beliefs, Workers with high levels of educational attainment prior to middle adulthood are more likely than their less educated peers to retrain in middle adulthood
Research indicates that loss of work in middle adulthood is a very critical life event that has negative consequences for emotional well-being (Dittman-Kohli, 2005).
Affluent middle-aged adults have shown a continuous decline in the average age of retirement, particularly among men (Kim & Moen, 2001; Moen, 2004). Researchers suggest that this trend in early retirement may be due to healthier and better education amongst midlife that previous generations. Hutchinson et al. (2011) examines four trends that are constantly changing the work patterns of middle age adults, but there are three trends which need to be examined more in depth:
1. Greater job mobility among middle-aged workers is becoming an everyday norm. Changes in the global economy have produced job instability, forcing middle-age workers to acquire new trades and skills to better adapt to changing job skill requirements.
2. Greater variability in the timing of retirement is also becoming an area of great interest amongst this group because while the average age of retirement is drastically decreasing, there are still many other midlife adults are working well into their 60s or early 70s. The decision to retire is drive by both health and financial status (i.e. availability of pension benefits) (Han & Moen, 1999 et al.). Many people now “phase” into retirement.
3. Increasing educational reentry has become quite interesting amongst this particular age group because contrary to majority beliefs, Workers with high levels of educational attainment prior to middle adulthood are more likely than their less educated peers to retrain in middle adulthood
Research indicates that loss of work in middle adulthood is a very critical life event that has negative consequences for emotional well-being (Dittman-Kohli, 2005).