Labor Market Exit, Work Stress, and Education: A Study With Older Employees in 16 European Countries

Jana Mäcken
Patrick Praeg, University of Oxford
Lea Ellwardt, University of Cologne

Objective: This study examines (1) country differences in the association between education and voluntary and involuntary labor market exit and (2) if this association is explained by institutional characteristics among countries. Methods: A sample of 20,186 individuals of the Survey of Health Aging and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) aged between 50 and 68 in 2004 to 2015 was used. First, time discrete event history analysis with a categorical outcome (employed/ involuntary/voluntary work exit) will be estimated for each country separately. Second, macro level indicators were added and a meta-analysis was conducted to analyze country differences. Results: A social gradient in work exit exists in most countries The social gradient of involuntary work exit was the smallest in Sweden, the Netherlands and France and highest in Slovenia, Austria and Czech Republic. Only small differences between educational level and voluntary work exit were found. Institutional characteristics can only partly explain country variations.

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 Presented in Session 6. Health & Mortality & Aging